The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concern over the recent deaths of booth-level officers (BLOs) amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls exercise.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant held state governments responsible for BLOs' working conditions and mental health, reasoning "where 10,000 staff (have been deployed), even 30,000 can be deployed" and help reduce workload of, and pressure, on those out in the field now, according to a report by NDTV.
The SC said it was the responsibility of state governments to ensure the safety and workload management of BLOs, directing that more workforce be deployed to reduce their working hours.
The top court noted that if any employee has a specific reason to seek exemption from duty, particularly if they are ill, the concerned authority should consider such requests on a case-to-case basis. If such relief is not offered, the court said, the BLO in question could approach.
The top court was hearing a petition by actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which is expected to make its electoral debut in next year's Tamil Nadu Assembly election. The party had moved the top court amid controversy over the deaths of several BLOs – between 35 and 40, by the Tamil party's count – and accused the Election Commission of forcing them to work by threatening them with jail under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act.
The court, however, refused to accept the demand to hold the Election Commission responsible for BLOs' deaths. Chief Justice Kant pointed out BLOs are state government employees.
The EC, meanwhile, called the petition "completely false and baseless" and argued that delaying voter re-verification work now would have a "major impact on elections".
BLO deaths
Reports of BLO deaths and suicide attempts have surfaced across states, turning it into a widespread concern and prompting strong protests and demands for action from Opposition parties.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala are both scheduled to hold Assembly elections next year. Bengal will also vote in 2026 and there too a Special Intensive Revision is underway, with more reports of deaths of BLOs and complaints of EC pressure.
The BLO-workload issue has also become a political row, with opposition parties like the Congress, Bengal's ruling Trinamool, and Tamil Nadu's TVK and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam speaking up.
TMC supremo demanded it halt the exercise over "inhuman" work pressure. They are "operating far beyond human limits", she declared, criticising the poll panel for intimidating workers.
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