SC orders States to ease BLO workload during SIR revision amid reported deaths

The Supreme Court directed States to ease the heavy workload on Booth Level Officers engaged in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision exercise, following reports of deaths, FIRs and extreme stress, while allowing exemptions and replacements for employees with genuine difficulties

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a slew of directions to ease the workload on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) involved in the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in several states, following reports of deaths and FIRs against ground-level staff.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that employees deputed by state governments and SECs (State Election Commissions) “are obligated to perform such duties”