New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed serious concern over reported threats to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and disruptions to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and several other states. Hearing a petition related to the SIR process, the apex court directed the ECI to bring instances of non-cooperation or intimidation to its notice so that appropriate orders can be passed.
SC Warns of ‘Chaos’ if Situation Escalates
During the hearing, the bench noted that obstruction of SIR activities and threats to field officials could undermine the integrity of the electoral roll revision process.
“If the situation worsens, deploying police personnel may become the only option,” the court observed.
The Election Commission responded by stating that it possesses all constitutional powers needed to deal with such incidents, including ensuring the safety of BLOs and supervising officers. The court, however, urged the Commission to exercise its authority firmly, warning that unchecked disruptions could lead to “chaos.”
ECI Appoints Five IAS Officers as Special Roll Observers in West Bengal
In a significant administrative step, the Election Commission on Monday appointed five senior IAS officers as Special Roll Observers (SROs) to oversee the SIR process in West Bengal. Officials said the move aims to strengthen transparency and improve scrutiny across divisions, especially after reports of obstruction.
The appointments include:
Kumar Ravi Kant Singh (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence) – SRO for Presidency Division
Neeraj Kumar Bansod (Ministry of Home Affairs) – SRO for Medinipur Division
Krishna Kumar Nirala (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) – SRO for Bardhaman Division
According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, deploying SROs will help ensure stronger monitoring and timely reporting of irregularities during the revision process.
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls began on November 4, 2025, and the final voter list is scheduled for release on February 14, 2026.
