SC Directs States to Replace Distressed BLOs or Add SIR Staff
SC Directs States to Replace Distressed BLOs or Add SIR Staff
The Supreme Court orders states to substitute distressed BLOs or deploy more staff to ease pressure during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed state governments to substitute Booth Level Officers (BLOs) who cannot bear the workload or to deploy additional staff to bolster BLO ranks during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, stressed that the SIR must proceed without letting individual hardships derail the process. States were told they could also depute extra personnel to strengthen BLOs and ensure timely completion.
The court underscored that BLOs, as state employees, have a statutory duty to perform their assigned tasks—distributing enumeration forms and collecting data for the SIR—but stressed that authorities should “obviate the hardships” faced by them. On requests for exemptions from duties, the competent authority may consider them on a case-by-case basis and replace officers where warranted.
The Bench also directed that states provide the Election Commission with the required manpower to complete the SIR within the set deadline. The hearing followed reports of high stress and even suicides among BLOs, though the Election Commission dismissed such claims as “works of imagination.” The EC noted that each polling booth is designed for up to 1,200 electors under its rationalisation scheme, with BLOs allotted 37 days—from November 4 to December 11—to finish enumeration.
In addressing petitions challenging the SIR, the court emphasized procedural safeguards and the need for a regional officer to oversee workload distribution, ensuring that duties are proportionately managed. The directive clearly signals a shift toward prioritising staff welfare alongside the integrity and timeliness of the electoral roll revision.
As the nine states and three Union Territories push ahead with the SIR, authorities will be watching closely to balance efficiency with the well-being of frontline officers. The outcome could shape how atmospheric pressures are managed in future electoral exercises, highlighting the government’s responsibility to back the workforce tasked with maintaining accurate voter records.
Cover image source: SC directs states to deploy additional staff, substitutes for SIR exercise 🔗
