Residents Raise Alarm Over Allegedly Ineligible BLO Appointments in Maharashtra
In a significant development ahead of the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls announced by the Election Commission, a group of residents from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in Maharashtra has formally objected to the appointment of what they claim are ineligible Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The residents have called for the immediate removal of these officers, arguing that their appointments violate statutory provisions.
Legal Framework and Alleged Violations
The residents emphasize that the SIR exercise in Maharashtra will be conducted through BLOs, whose appointment must strictly comply with Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. This Act clearly specifies the categories of government, semi-government, and local body employees eligible for BLO roles. According to the memorandum submitted by the residents, several BLOs currently working in the district are laboratory or library attendants and assistants, who do not fall under the notified eligible categories.
"Such appointments are contrary to statutory provisions and may compromise the integrity and credibility of the voter roll revision process," the residents stated in their representation. They further pointed out that laboratory and library attendants generally belong to non-promotional cadres and are often SSC pass or fail employees drawing lower pay scales. In contrast, employees listed under the Act, such as teachers and clerical staff, are usually graduates or postgraduates and are considered better suited to handle sensitive electoral work, including verification and updating of voter data.
Official Response and Available Manpower
When contacted, Deputy Collector (Elections) Devendra Katke responded, "As far as my understanding goes, efforts have been made to make appointments in accordance with the set norms. Still, if some residents feel that ineligible people have been appointed, we will look into the matter and take appropriate corrective measures."
The residents countered this by highlighting that Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district has adequate eligible manpower to carry out the SIR smoothly. According to their memorandum, the district has nearly 9,000 to 10,000 aided teachers, in addition to sufficient clerical staff in urban areas, who can be deployed as BLOs. "Despite the availability of trained and qualified personnel, non-eligible laboratory staff are being used, which defeats the purpose of the statutory framework," the memorandum asserted.
Eligible Categories and Demands for Action
As per the Representation of the People Act and Election Commission guidelines, the 13 categories eligible for appointment as BLOs include:
- Teachers
- Anganwadi workers
- Patwari, amin, or lekhpal
- Panchayat secretaries
- Village-level workers
- Electricity bill readers
- Postmen
- Auxiliary nurse midwives
- Health workers
- Mid-day meal workers
- Contract teachers
- Clerical staff such as upper division clerks and lower division clerks in urban areas
The residents have demanded that laboratory and library attendants or assistants be relieved from BLO duties with immediate effect. They insist that only employees from the notified categories be deployed to ensure transparency and lawful conduct of the SIR exercise.
Escalation and Broader Implications
To strengthen their case, the residents maintained that copies of the memorandum will soon be forwarded to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, the Chief Minister's office, the Election Commission in New Delhi, and the State Election Commission in Mumbai. They are seeking intervention to ensure that the electoral roll revision is conducted strictly as per law, underscoring the critical importance of maintaining electoral integrity in a democratic process.
This controversy arises at a crucial time, as the Election Commission prepares for the Special Intensive Revision, aiming to update and verify voter lists across the nation. The residents' actions highlight ongoing concerns about adherence to legal standards in electoral administration, potentially setting a precedent for similar scrutiny in other districts.
