The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, has imposed a strict ban on the transfer of government employees and officials working as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and sector supervisors for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, effective June 25, 2026. The directive, issued by the Additional Chief Electoral Officer in a communication to the Secretary of the Education Department, states that no employee deployed for the SIR exercise shall be relieved or displaced from their current posting before the completion of the process on October 1, 2026, or any extended date notified by the Election Commission of India.
Education Department's Transfer Hold Reinforced
The instruction follows the Education Department's decision to put on hold transfers of teachers engaged in SIR duties. The Election Commission has clarified that any transfer orders issued for such officials shall be kept in abeyance until the SIR is completed. The names and designations of all BLOs have been frozen as of June 3, 2026, and pre-printed on enumeration forms to ensure continuity and accuracy in the voter list revision process.
Pending Transfers Allowed but Posting Unchanged
The Chief Electoral Officer has allowed the processing of pending and future transfers to proceed administratively. However, employees will be required to continue working at their current place of posting until the SIR concludes on October 1. This clarification came in response to a proposal from the School Education Department seeking guidance on transfer policies during the revision period. The CEO’s office referenced earlier letters dated June 12 and June 16, which had clearly stated that BLOs and other officials involved in SIR cannot be transferred without prior approval from the Election Commission of India.
Special Intensive Revision Drive
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a major initiative undertaken across Punjab to update and purify voter lists ahead of future elections. Booth Level Officers, typically school teachers and other government employees, play a crucial role in door-to-door verification and enumeration of voters. The ban ensures that these essential personnel remain in place to complete the revision process without disruption.
Teachers' Delegation Meets CEO
A delegation from the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) Punjab, led by state president Vikram Dev Singh, met with Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra on Thursday to raise key issues concerning BLOs and supervisors during the SIR. Regarding the DTF's demand to reduce or rationalize BLO duties for teachers so that students' studies are not adversely affected, the CEO stated that the issue would be examined seriously after the completion of the current SIR. The meeting underscored the ongoing concerns about balancing election duties with educational responsibilities.
