BLO Deaths: Supreme Court Says Election Commission Not Responsible, Directs States to Increase Staff

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed deep concern over the recent deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the Special Summary Revision (SIR) exercise but refused to hold the Election Commission of India (ECI) responsible. Instead, the court placed the onus squarely on state governments, directing them to ensure adequate staffing for election-related duties.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Surya Kant observed that many BLOs were facing extreme stress, excessive workload and, in some cases, alleged suicides linked to election duties.

‘Providing Adequate Workforce Is the State’s Responsibility’

During the hearing, the CJI made it clear that the responsibility for supplying sufficient manpower for election work lies entirely with state governments.

“Deployment for electoral roll management and related duties is a legal requirement. States must provide adequate manpower so that the burden on existing staff is reduced,” the bench said.

The court acknowledged reports of deaths and suicides among BLOs but clarified that the Election Commission cannot be held accountable for manpower shortages that fall under state jurisdiction.

States Must Supply Additional Personnel

Issuing a firm directive, the Supreme Court instructed all state administrations to provide additional staff to the Election Commission to ease the workload on current officers.

“If the state is giving 10,000 staff today, it should provide 20,000 or even 30,000 if required,” the CJI remarked, emphasizing that election duties must not push employees into extreme physical or mental distress.

The bench also noted that if an officer has a valid reason to seek exemption from election duty—due to illness or a serious personal issue—the concerned authorities must consider such requests compassionately.