Kerala Chief Electoral Officer warns of stern action against those obstructing BLOs from conducting SIR work

Obstructing booth-level officers (BLO) from discharging their duties related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls will attract “strict criminal action,” Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar has said.

Addressing a press conference of the progress of SIR in Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, Mr. Kelkar said incidents were reported in Malappuram and Idukki where BLOs were prevented from doing their work.

“As long as a person is appointed as a BLO, that person will be considered as a public servant for the work of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Everybody should know that they have a prominent role to play. District Collectors have been instructed to take strict criminal action under Section 121 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against anyone who tries to obstruct their work ,” Mr. Kelkar said.

Section 121 deals with instances where public servants are hindered in discharging their duties.

Mr. Kelkar said his office was taking the SIR forward “through teamwork” and by addressing the issues faced by the BLOs. Complaints regarding work pressure on BLOs will be looked into, he said.

He observed that BLOs are appointed for a Constitutionally mandated work for the ECI under Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. “Once a person is appointed as BLO, the control over the person rests with the ECI. Then their monitoring and supervision becomes the responsibility of the ECI,” he said.

All officers, including the CEO, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, AEROs, booth-level supervisors and the BLOs, work as per the mandates of the Constitution and the ECI, he said. District Collectors have also been directed to seek police assistance for BLOs if needed, he added.

Checking misinformation spread

District Collectors will also be instructed to take strict action against the spread of misinformation pertaining to the SIR, the CEO said.

He cited an instance where there were reports that the commission was planning action against BLOs who took part in the protest demonstrations on Monday. The ECI was not contemplating any such action, Mr. Kelkar said.

Regarding the progress of distributing enumeration forms, the CEO said around 55,000 cases have been reported where the individuals were found to be untraceable. They include, deceased, shifted persons and duplications.

According to him, 97% of the forms have been distributed so far.

The filled forms will be collected in the coming days. Nearly 5 lakh forms have been digitised so far, he said.