New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday raised serious concerns over reports that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and other officials engaged in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR 2.0) of electoral rolls are facing threats in West Bengal and other states. The Court asked the Election Commission (EC) to bring all such instances to its attention, warning that ignoring the situation could lead to “anarchy.”
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi highlighted the lack of cooperation from certain state governments, which is hampering the work of BLOs. The judges urged the EC to report specific cases of obstruction so the Court could intervene.
Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the EC, assured the Court that the commission has the constitutional authority to address threats to officials. However, he noted that police deployment to protect BLOs remains under the jurisdiction of state governments until the official election process begins.
“Bring such instances to our notice. Deal with the situation or it will cause anarchy,” Justice Kant cautioned, describing the matter as “very serious.” Justice Bagchi added that the BLOs’ work is far from routine desk work—they must go door-to-door, collect information, fill enumeration forms, and upload them, making their role physically and mentally demanding.
Dwivedi also dismissed concerns that the workload could drive officials to extreme stress, noting that enumerators are assigned only six to seven houses per area with around 30–35 voters each.
Senior advocate V. Giri, representing petitioners including Sanatani Sangsad, highlighted allegations of violence and intimidation against BLOs, urging the EC to implement measures to safeguard the personnel involved in the revision process.
The Supreme Court’s observations underscore the critical need for protective measures for election officials and prompt reporting of any threats or harassment, ensuring the smooth and secure completion of the SIR exercise across India.
