NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court docket on Tuesday requested all states to supply satisfactory safety to booth-level officers engaged in particular intensive revision, and warned that it could critically view any occasion of BLOs being threatened or obstructions being positioned of their work.The observations had been made by a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi after senior advocate V Giri, showing for NGO Sanatani Sangsad, demanded safety for BLOs, alleging that they had been being intimidated and threatened throughout voter enumeration work in West Bengal. EC, by means of senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, stated the fee had written a powerful letter to WB govt on safety of BLOs and warranted the court docket that it had satisfactory powers below the Structure to deal with the state of affairs. Dwivedi stated such conditions had been arising as a result of EC had no management over state police. The petitioner sought deployment of paramilitary forces in WB for security and safety of BLOs.Giving a pan-India dimension to the difficulty raised within the petition, the bench stated, “If EC had any grievance about non-cooperation from state officers or police relating to security and safety of BLOs, it ought to method the SC. We’ll cross applicable orders. It isn’t solely about West Bengal however for all states. Non-cooperation with EC work is a severe challenge. BLOs should get full safety.”Whereas in search of a response from the Heart and EC, the bench requested the ballot panel to evaluate the state of affairs in all states and transfer SC for applicable directives, if wanted. “We’ll take robust motion to guard BLOs. Their security and safety have to be ensured, in any other case there will likely be anarchy,” the CJI-led bench stated and referred to its Dec-4 order directing states to permit BLOs who’re harassed or face well being points to withdraw from SIR work and supply satisfactory replacements.When Dwivedi and senior advocate Maninder Singh stated issues had been arising in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal as a result of their state govts had made public their opposition to SIR, the bench stated BLOs unwilling to hold out SIR work must file an software earlier than the district electoral officer, who would inform the state.In the course of the proceedings, Justice Bagchi questioned the fabric submitted by Sanatani Sangsad to allege intimidation of BLOs in West Bengal. “Other than a solitary FIR, there isn’t a different credible proof to substantiate the allegations. Based mostly on a solitary incident, can or not it’s stated that it’s performed solely in West Bengal and never in different states? Is it not a story from one aspect? Ought to police in all states be put below EC?” he requested. EC stated there had been sure incidents in West Bengal that noticed electoral officers being surrounded and threatened by the general public. “Quite a lot of narratives are being floated by political events. At current, a BLO is to do enumeration of a most of 1,200 voters in 37 days, which is roughly 35 per day. Is it an excessive amount of work?” the ballot panel stated.Justice Bagchi stated, “This isn’t a desk job the place the quota of 35 is met simply. A BLO should go from home to accommodate, confirm enumeration varieties after which add it. There may very well be stress and bodily pressure. We wish to make sure that SIR at floor degree is finished and not using a hitch.” EC stated the narrative of BLOs being below stress was being unfold by political events. The CJI stated that was why the court docket had directed states on Dec 4 to enhance the workforce.