(1) As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the population as at the last census of the Scheduled Tribes in the State shall be ascertained or estimated by the Census Commissioner.
(2) Where by reason of the amendments made in the Scheduled Tribes Orders after the last census and up to the date of commencement of this Act, the population of the Scheduled Tribes as at the last census is varied in the State, the Census Commissioner shall ascertain or estimate as on the date of such commencement, the population of the Scheduled Tribes so varied, and also ascertain or estimate the proportion of such population of the Scheduled Tribes to the total population of the State.
(3) The population figures ascertained or estimated under sub-section (2) shall be notified by the Census Commissioner in the Gazette of India.
(4) The population figures so notified shall be taken to be the relevant population figures and shall replace any figures previously published as ascertained or estimated at the last census; and the figures so notified shall be final and shall not be called in question in any court.