Section 40

(1) It shall be lawful for the Institute to enter into agreements with Government Ministries or Departments, local collection authorities or other public or private bodies or organizations providing for the joint collection of information, data or statistics by the Government Ministries or Departments, local authorities or public or private bodies or organizations and the Institute if allowed or authorized by law. Agreements collection, etc., (2) Where any information, statistics or data referred to in an agreement provided under sub-section (1), is obtained from or furnished by a respondent, the respondent shall, before providing or furnishing the information, statistics or data, be informed by the Director-General, by notice in writing, that the information, statistics or information is being jointly collected by the Institute and the Government Ministry or Department, or the local authority or public or private body or organization, as the case may be. (3) An agreement referred to in sub-section (1) shall be of no effect if a respondent referred to in sub-section (2), objects to the joint collection of the information, statistics or data, unless the provisions of some other law provides otherwise. (4) An employee or officer of a Government Ministry or Department, or a local authority or public or private body or organization shall, if engaged in the joint collection of information, statistics or data pursuant to an agreement referred to in sub-section (1), subscribe to an oath of secrecy provided in the Schedule II. Schedule II.