Overview
- A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant directed states and UTs to depute additional personnel for the Special Intensive Revision so working hours for booth level officers can be reduced.
- Exemption requests must be evaluated individually and, where granted, the employee must be replaced, with states barred from withdrawing staff without providing substitutes.
- The court affirmed that supplying the requisite workforce to the Election Commission is a state obligation and left other reliefs, including ex-gratia claims tied to reported deaths, to be pursued later.
- The Election Commission opposed the plea and said Section 32 cases are filed only against reluctant officers, while petitioners alleged 35–40 suicides and multiple FIRs linked to time-bound targets.
- Broader challenges to the SIR continue with hearings to resume next week, as the nationwide revision—covering roughly 51 crore electors after a one-week timeline extension—moves forward.