SC flags threats to BLOs

The Supreme Court on Tuesday raised serious concern over booth-level officers (BLOs) and other officials involved in the SIR 2.0 exercise being “threatened” in West Bengal and other states, warning the Election Commission (EC) to “deal with the situation or it will cause anarchy”.

- PTI

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said it wanted to ensure that the SIR process was carried out smoothly. “What we want to ensure is that the SIR is done on the ground without any glitches,” the bench said. It asked the EC to inform the court about any “lack of cooperation” or “hindrances to the work of BLOs”, assuring that “appropriate orders” would be passed if required.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the EC, told the court that BLOs were being threatened, their work obstructed, and the state election office in West Bengal had been gheraoed. He said state governments were required to give protection to officials.