Supreme Court Takes Action to Support Election Commission Staff Amidst Rising Concerns

The Supreme Court has taken significant steps to alleviate the pressures faced by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) involved in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Following alarming reports of deaths and legal actions against these workers, the court has directed state governments to provide additional support and ensure that employees facing genuine difficulties are replaced. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party has raised concerns about the extreme workloads leading to tragic outcomes, prompting the court to consider extending deadlines and addressing the welfare of these essential staff members. This article delves into the court's directives and the ongoing challenges faced by BLOs during this critical electoral process.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 4, 2025, 15:42 IST

Supreme Court's Directives for Election Commission Staff

New Delhi, Dec 4: The Supreme Court has recently issued a series of directives aimed at alleviating the burden on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) engaged in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process across various states. This decision follows alarming reports of fatalities and legal actions against these frontline workers.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that employees assigned by state governments and State Election Commissions (SECs) are required to fulfill these responsibilities. They urged state governments to step in whenever BLOs encounter challenges.

The CJI's bench recommended that state governments allocate additional personnel to the Election Commission of India (ECI), which would allow for a proportional decrease in working hours for BLOs.

"In cases where an employee has a valid reason for exemption, the competent authority should evaluate such requests individually and replace the employee with another. However, this should not be interpreted as a means to withdraw employees without providing substitutes," the court stated.

This ruling came in response to a petition from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, which sought to protect BLOs from punitive measures under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act. The Tamil Nadu-based party highlighted the distressing statistic of 35 to 40 BLO deaths nationwide attributed to excessive work pressure during the SIR exercise.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing TVK, expressed grave concerns: "FIRs under Section 32 have been lodged in Uttar Pradesh. Anganwadi workers and teachers are being assigned SIR tasks before and after their regular shifts. One individual was even denied leave for his wedding, leading to his tragic suicide. This is not how the system should operate."

The TVK's petition outlined numerous suicides across states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, linking them to "unreasonable workloads, intimidation, and threats of criminal action".

In light of several reported suicides and heart attacks allegedly connected to SIR deadlines, the application, submitted by advocate Yash S. Vijay, requested an extension of the deadline to March 2026, arguing that the current timeline is "entirely unreasonable" and has resulted in fatalities, even after the ECI announced an extension.

Sankaranarayanan further asserted that "this work related to SIR is not voluntary — they cannot withdraw. Complaints under Section 32 can only be initiated by the ECI. The chilling effect is very real."

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal remarked on the intense pressure faced by BLOs, questioning the rationale behind granting states only 30 days for enumeration in regions like Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly elections are set for 2027.

"Why this rush?" Sibal inquired.

In opposition to the plea, senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Election Commission, dismissed the TVK’s application as "groundless", asserting that in many instances, BLOs were hesitant to fulfill their duties, prompting the poll body to initiate legal actions.

The CJI Surya Kant-led bench noted that while the ECI cannot conduct the exercise without the cooperation of state governments, the latter also cannot evade their responsibilities.

"If any employee is genuinely struggling due to illness, pregnancy, or similar reasons, the state government can arrange for a replacement," it clarified.

Regarding the deaths of BLOs, the Supreme Court indicated that claims for ex gratia compensation could be submitted later and would be reviewed separately.