New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stepped in to address the mounting strain on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) deployed for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, issuing a series of directions to States to reduce work hours, deploy additional staff, and consider exemption requests on humanitarian grounds, Bar and Bench reported.
The intervention follows alarming reports highlighted before the Court, including cases of BLOs dying by suicide, allegedly due to intense work pressure.
A Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing an application filed by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was imposing coercive measures on overburdened BLOs responsible for carrying out the SIR.
(Infographic courtesy: Election Commission of India)
The Bench emphasized that while the SIR is a statutory exercise entrusted to the ECI, state governments bear the responsibility to mitigate hardships endured by BLOs deployed for the process. "In case they are facing issues, the state govt can obviate such hardship," the order stated.
The SC Bench also reaffirmed that States remain obligated to provide additional workforce wherever required to complete the SIR efficiently and humanely.
Govt agrees to debate on electoral reformsIn a significant breakthrough for the Winter Session of Parliament, the government has agreed to a structured debate on electoral rolls, ending days of disruptions. A 10-hour discussion is scheduled for December 9, beginning in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) before moving to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House). The parliament’s announcement comes at a time when the exercise is being conducted across 12 states and union territories. It also comes amid increasing deaths of block-level officers (BLOs) engaged in the exercise. |
