New Delhi: In a significant directive aimed at safeguarding the integrity of India’s electoral process, the Supreme Court has ordered all States to immediately replace distressed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) or deploy additional staff to ensure that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is not disrupted.
A Bench of the Court made it clear that the work of BLOs — who play a crucial role in updating and verifying voter lists — cannot be hampered under any circumstances, especially during the nationwide revision exercise.
The Court noted with concern that BLOs in several States are severely overburdened with extra administrative duties, leading to delays and errors in electoral roll updates. Such lapses, it observed, can directly affect the fairness and transparency of elections.
To address this, the Supreme Court directed Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories to:
- Identify BLOs under excessive stress or workload
- Replace them or appoint additional staff to support them
- Ensure BLO-related work is given top priority during the SIR period
The Bench stressed that a clean, accurate voter list is the backbone of free and fair elections. Any negligence — including missing names, duplicate entries, or outdated records — undermines public trust in the electoral system.
The Court will continue to monitor compliance to ensure States follow the directive without delay.
