New Delhi, 4 Dec 

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed states and Union Territories to consider deputing more personnel to assist booth level officers (BLOs) involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, noting concerns over excessive workload and pressure.

The direction came while the court heard a plea by actor Vijay’s political party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), alleging that BLOs, often school teachers or Anganwadi workers, are facing extreme stress while managing SIR duties alongside routine work.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing TVK, told the bench of ChiefJustice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that there have been instances of BLOs dying due to work pressure. He also claimed that the Election Commission (EC) has been filing FIRs against officers unable to complete assigned duties within deadlines.

Taking note of these submissions, the bench urged governments to take corrective steps.
“In case they are facing hardships, including they being overburdened with their routine duties as well as the additional duties assigned by the Election Commission, the state government can obviate such hardships,” the court said.

The order said states may consider “deputing additional staff at the disposal of the EC so that the working hours can be proportionately reduced.”

The court also said employees with a “specific reason” to seek exemption may be replaced case-by-case, but clarified that states must ensure substitutes before withdrawing anyone from duty.

States and UTs where SIR is underway are “obligated to deploy requisite work force” to support the EC, the bench stressed.