Supreme Court directs states to deploy additional staff, ease workload on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and review exemption requests as SIR pressure rises nationwide.
New Delhi (Economy India): In a significant direction aimed at stabilising the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Supreme Court on Thursday stated that government employees appointed by state governments or State Election Commissions (SECs) are legally bound to perform SIR-related duties. The bench clarified that only in exceptional cases may an employee be exempted, subject to the state government appointing a replacement.
The bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasised that SIR functions fall under statutory obligations, and state governments are duty-bound to provide adequate manpower to the Election Commission (EC). The bench also stressed that if Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are overburdened, states must deploy additional staff to reduce pressure and working hours.
The bench was hearing a plea filed by Tamil actor Vijay’s political party Tamizha Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), seeking protection for BLOs who allegedly face punitive action for delays or non-completion of SIR duties.
TVK Flags High Workload, 29 Deaths Among BLOs; Supreme Court Responds
During the hearing, senior advocate Gopal Shankaranarayanan, representing TVK, highlighted that 29 BLOs have died in seven states, citing extreme workload, stress, and inability to secure leave.
He further claimed that many BLOs—consisting primarily of anganwadi workers and government school teachers—have been issued notices under Section 32 of the Representation of People Act (ROPA), which carries penalties including up to two years imprisonment for not completing assigned electoral duties on time.
In Uttar Pradesh alone, Shankaranarayanan informed the court, 50 FIRs have been filed against BLOs.
CJI Surya Kant’s Response
CJI Surya Kant acknowledged the seriousness but cautioned against attributing every death solely to workload, noting that other health or personal factors may also be responsible.
However, he agreed that employees facing genuine hardship must be allowed relief through transparent administrative processes.
Supreme Court Issues Three Key Directions
To address ongoing challenges related to staffing and work pressure, the Supreme Court issued the following binding directions:
1. States must appoint additional staff.
This is to reduce excessive workload and balance working hours for BLOs engaged in SIR operations.
2. Exemptions must be considered case-by-case.
If any employee seeks exemption from SIR duty due to special circumstances, the state government must evaluate the appeal and arrange an alternate official.
3. Employees can approach the court if issues persist.
If the hardship of any employee remains unresolved, they have the right to seek judicial intervention.
The bench clarified that employees appointed by the SEC function under the legal authority of the Election Commission for the purpose of SIR and other statutory electoral activities.
Context: Litigation Over Tight SIR Deadlines
Thursday’s hearing follows earlier remarks by the Supreme Court on 2 December, when it asked the Election Commission to reconsider and relax SIR submission timelines in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where local body election preparations are underway.
On 30 November, the EC had already extended the SIR deadline by seven days, pushing the enumeration period to 11 December, and rescheduling the draft electoral roll publication to 16 December. The final electoral roll will now be published on 14 February 2026.
Kerala’s local body elections are scheduled for 9 and 11 December, with vote counting on 13 December, creating pressure on state administrative machinery.
EC Progress Report: 99.53% Forms Delivered, 79% Digitised
According to an official EC press release:
- 51 crore voters are covered under the SIR exercise.
- 99.53% of forms have been delivered door-to-door by BLOs.
- 79% of these forms have already been digitised — meaning names, addresses, and household details have been uploaded into the electoral system.
The EC maintained that intensive revision is necessary to ensure accuracy in voter rolls ahead of major electoral events in 2026.
Growing Concerns Over BLO Workload and Safety
Over the past several weeks, BLO associations and labour groups in multiple states have expressed concerns over:
- High work pressure
- Lack of training
- Threat of legal action
- Multiple administrative duties beyond SIR
- Insufficient staffing
- Pressure from local election officials
Reports also highlighted that BLOs are required to perform field visits, verification, document collection, and digital uploading—tasks becoming increasingly challenging in remote or congested urban areas.
TVK’s petition asserts that BLO stress and enforcement actions may be contributing to fatalities, though the EC denies any causal link.
What Comes Next
With the Supreme Court’s directions, states now face immediate obligations:
- Assess staffing shortages urgently
- Provide relief to overworked BLOs
- Clear guidelines for exemptions
- Transparent communication with district administrators
For the Election Commission, ensuring digital processing capacity and field infrastructure during the ongoing SIR cycle remains crucial.
The Court has left the door open for BLOs or affected employees to approach the judiciary if new guidelines are ignored.
( Economy India)
