Thousands of revenue department employees in Tamil Nadu have initiated a widespread boycott of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, citing severe work-related stress and excessive demands. The protest action, which began on November 17, 2025, involves more than 50,000 government workers responsible for updating electoral rolls across the state.
Mass Protest Over Excessive Workload
The revenue department staff, crucial to conducting the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, have decided to collectively abstain from their duties in what represents one of the largest government employee protests in recent state history. Workers report that the immense pressure and unrealistic deadlines associated with the SIR exercise have pushed them beyond reasonable working limits.
Over 50,000 employees directly involved in the electoral roll revision process are expected to participate in the boycott, effectively bringing the critical government exercise to a standstill. The employees have expressed that continuous overtime demands and insufficient support systems have created unsustainable working conditions.
Impact on Electoral Roll Revision
The boycott is anticipated to significantly jeopardize the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls throughout Tamil Nadu. With the massive participation in the protest action, the entire process of updating and verifying voter information faces substantial delays that could affect upcoming electoral processes in the state.
Government sources indicate that the absence of such a large portion of the workforce responsible for the SIR exercise creates a major operational challenge. The electoral roll revision, a fundamental democratic process, now faces uncertainty as the protest continues without immediate resolution in sight.
Broader Implications and Employee Demands
This organized protest highlights growing concerns about work conditions within government departments across India. The revenue employees' action brings attention to the human resource challenges in administering large-scale democratic exercises like electoral roll revisions.
The timing of the boycott, during the crucial Special Intensive Revision period, demonstrates the severity of the employees' grievances. While specific negotiation points haven't been publicly detailed, the core issues revolve around workload management, stress reduction, and reasonable working hours for government staff engaged in time-sensitive national exercises.
As the situation develops, all eyes remain on how state authorities will address the concerns of the protesting employees while ensuring the critical electoral roll revision process can continue without compromising democratic integrity.
