The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over BLOs and other officials engaged in SIR 2.0 being “threatened” in West Bengal and other States, and asked the Election Commission to deal with the situation or “it will cause anarchy”.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also voiced concern over the alleged lack of cooperation by State Governments in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and said, “What we want to ensure is that the SIR is done on the ground without any glitches.”
“Bring to our notice instances of lack of cooperation, hindrances to work of BLOs and we will pass appropriate orders,” the bench told senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Election Commission (EC).
Justice Bagchi said the poll panel cannot take the police under its jurisdiction until the commencement of the election process.
Dwivedi submitted, “The State Governments are supposed to cooperate with us and give us protection. If the State Government refuses to do so, then we have no option other than taking the local police under deputation. If the situation still does not improve, then we will have to call central forces.”
Dwivedi said the EC has all constitutional powers to deal with instances of BLOs and other officials engaged in SIR work being threatened.
“Deal with the situation or it will cause anarchy,” CJI Kant told Dwivedi, terming the situation “very serious”.
Senior advocate V Giri, appearing for petitioner Sanatani Sangsad and others, pointed out that the petitioners have alleged violence and threats against BLOs and other officials engaged in SIR work and sought directions to the EC to protect them.
The top court sought responses from the EC, the Centre and the West Bengal Government on the plea of Sanatani Sangsad for directions to deploy the State police officers under the EC’s deputation till the final publication of electoral rolls in the State after SIR.
The plea also sought the deployment of central armed forces in the State till the completion of SIR.
