The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the deaths of BLOs during SIRs. The court refused to hold the Election Commission responsible, but directed state governments to ensure adequate staffing. This directive was issued in light of the stress- and work-related deaths of booth-level officers.

New Delhi : The Supreme Court has expressed deep concern over the deaths of BLOs during the SIR. However, the apex court refused to hold the Election Commission responsible for the recent deaths and alleged suicides of booth level officers due to stress and work pressure, and directed the state governments to ensure adequate staffing.

During the hearing on Thursday, the bench headed by CJI Surya Kant said that it is the sole responsibility of the state governments to ensure adequate staffing for election-related work. The court, while acknowledging the deaths and suicides of BLOs, said that deployment for electoral rolls and related work is a legal process, and states should provide adequate manpower to reduce the burden on existing staff.

State governments should provide additional staff to the Election Commission... Supreme Court

The court issued directions to the state governments, saying that the state governments should provide additional staff to the Election Commission so that the workload and working hours of the existing staff can be reduced proportionately.

CJI Surya Kant clarified the court's stance, stating that the state is obligated to provide an adequate workforce. If you are providing 10,000 people now, give 20,000…30,000 to the ECI. The court stated that if an officer has a valid reason for requesting exemption from duty, the relevant authorities may consider it. Furthermore, if someone is ill or has other serious problems, they should be granted leave.

PC:NBT