SC asks states to provide more staff to EC for SIR duty

TO EASE PRESSURE ON BLOS

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The Supreme Court on Thursday directed states to examine the possibility of assigning additional personnel to assist booth-level officers during the ongoing special revision of electoral rolls, after a plea alleged that excessive workload had led to severe strain and even suicides among officials.

The case stemmed from an application filed by Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), the party founded by actor Vijay, which sought protection for booth level officers from coercive action under the Representation of the People Act for failing to meet time-bound targets set by the Election Commission. The plea argued that many BLOS, who are largely teachers and anganwadi workers, were unable to manage both their regular duties and the intensive revision work, leading to extreme stress.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi considered the submissions of senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for TVK, who said several officials had died under pressure exerted by poll authorities. He told the court that FIRs were being filed against BLOs who could not complete tasks on schedule. "Criminal action is harsh, it should not be initiated," he said, adding that the officers were struggling with limited time, inadequate digital infrastructure and obligations to their primary jobs.