TVK moves SC against Tamil Nadu SIR citing high pressure on teachers appointed as BLOs

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Tamil Nadu elections, citing deteriorating mental health of and recent suicides by the school teachers appointed as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), as per a Live Law report.

A bench comprising the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will hear the matter on December 4. Representing TVK, a senior advocate reportedly highlighted the pressure on school teachers who are allegedly forced to complete the targets.

The advocate reportedly pointed out that if the anganwadi workers and teachers do not meet the target, they are given notices of RP Act which has provisions for imprisonment for three months, and they end up being jailed and losing their jobs. The law is for breach of official duty in connection with the preparation of polls. As per the advocate, 21 BLOs have died by suicide due to the SIR work pressure.

The plea in SC has opposed SIR, arguing that it is in “gross violation of constitutional rights”, the report said. The electoral work also coincides with potential floods which would divert government officials to relief work, further posing logistical and administrative problems.

Also read ‘We’re not typists’: West Bengal teachers say Voter SIR work killing them, demand damages as another BLO dies

Tamil Nadu elections

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), on the other hand, has supported the SIR exercise, deeming it necessary to prevent voter fraud, as per the report.

Several BLOs allegedly died by suicide in different parts of the country including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat over voter SIR work pressure.