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New Delhi: Amid the surge in suicide cases among Booth Level Officers (BLOs) due to immense work pressure arising from the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Supreme Court has stepped in with a solution. The apex court ruled that BLOs who are unwilling to work due to health issues must be replaced by other government employees.
The bench, chaired by CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, made the observation during the hearing of a petition filed by Tamil Nadu’s TVK party. The petition alleged that multiple cases were being registered against BLOs, even as many of them had died by suicide.
The bench noted that the concerned state governments have already provided employees to carry out the statutorily mandated duties assigned to the Election Commission (EC). The court further directed that states must not deploy employees who are pregnant or suffering from any health condition.
Additionally, the bench clarified that it is not the EC’s responsibility to identify BLOs for implementing the SIR process. Instead, state governments must ensure that the Booth Level Officers appointed are competent and capable of undertaking the responsibility.
The court also stated that once the state places its employees at the disposal of the EC, they are bound to perform their duties, and highlighted that BLOs are not being posted outside their state, unlike certain instances in the past.
“TVK seeks action from the ECI concerning BLOs facing severe hardships. The applicant argues that employees who are unable to perform duties assigned by the ECI due to personal, family, or health problems are being subjected to criminal action for refusing their responsibilities. It is undeniable that SEC-appointed personnel are available to the ECI for carrying out statutory duties, including SIR. If employees are facing difficulties, it is the state government's responsibility to alleviate such hardship,” the court ruled.
The SIR exercise is currently underway in 12 states and Union Territories across India. Multiple petitions related to the process are pending before the Supreme Court.
