SIR drive in UP: Over 60 BLOs booked in Noida; two Bahraich officials suspended

The SIR phase-II, underway in nine states and three Union Territories with a December 4 deadline, requires BLOs to verify voter details against old electoral rolls and complete Form 6 for new voters and Form 8 for transfers or corrections.

The Noida administration has reportedly taken strict action against over 60 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and seven supervisors across three police stations for alleged negligence during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The FIRs have been filed under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, following orders from District Magistrate and District Election Officer Medha Rupam, stated an Indian Express report on Monday.

The Sub-District Magistrates of three Noida assembly segments lodged the FIRs, citing failure of BLOs to report to their designated areas despite repeated reminders, it has been learnt from the report.

A total of four FIRs were registered -- two in Dadri against 18 officials, including anganwadi workers and school teachers, one in Greater Noida’s Ecotech Phase 1 covering 33 BLOs and a supervisor, and one in Jewar against 17 BLOs.

The SIR phase-II, underway in nine states and three Union Territories with a December 4 deadline, requires BLOs to verify voter details against old electoral rolls and complete Form 6 for new voters and Form 8 for transfers or corrections.

Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich, two BLOs, headmistress Shama Nafees and assistant teacher Anurag, were suspended for failing to respond to official notices and repeated phone calls. A third BLO, Abhishek Singh, a primary school instructor, was reportedly booked after a complaint from BJP leader Ankit Kumar Singh, alleging abusive language during a call about SIR form distribution. Call recordings and chat messages have been submitted as evidence, the police has confirmed, states the report.

The Election Commission has classified the officers’ conduct as a violation of service rules, leading to their suspension under the direction of District Magistrate Akshay Tripathi. The SIR exercise in Uttar Pradesh began on November 4, with BLOs tasked with door-to-door verification to ensure updated and accurate electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections.