The death of a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Kerala’s Kannur district has triggered widespread concern across the state, with employees’ unions alleging unbearable workload during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral roll. However, district authorities on Monday clarified that, based on available evidence, there is no established link between the school employee’s suicide and the SIR duties he had been assigned.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning when the school staffer, a last-grade attendant posted at an upper primary school and recently designated as a BLO, was found dead at his residence. His sudden death and the family’s immediate allegations that it stemmed from work-related pressure set off a wave of protests by BLOs across multiple districts. These protests highlighted concerns about excessive workloads, unrealistic deadlines, and lack of administrative support.

But senior officials in Kannur have urged caution, stating that preliminary administrative reviews and police findings do not substantiate claims that SIR responsibilities directly contributed to the tragedy.

A Sudden Death Sparks Statewide Uproar

The deceased had been appointed as a BLO in July and had undergone training for the SIR exercise, which began statewide on November 4. The role of a Booth Level Officer is critical to electoral rolls: they are responsible for distributing and collecting enumeration forms, verifying voter information, and ensuring the accuracy of entries in their assigned booths.

According to the family, this workload had become an overwhelming burden. His father told reporters that the young man was unfamiliar with the neighbourhood he was assigned and found it difficult to complete form distribution and scrutiny within the stipulated deadlines. He reportedly worked late into the night on several consecutive days. His father said he went to sleep at 2 a.m. on the day of his death after another long stretch of fieldwork.

On Sunday morning, the BLO attended mass at the local church but left midway, telling his wife that he had pending work to finish. Hours later, he was found dead at his home.

The Peringome police registered a case of unnatural death and stated that there were no external injuries, no signs of a physical struggle, and no suicide note. Investigators emphasised that they were still examining the circumstances and had not ruled out any possibilities, though no evidence yet pointed clearly to official pressures being the cause.

Administrative Review Counters Allegations of Overwork

Kannur district collector K Vijayan released a detailed statement based on the initial administrative review, insisting that the officer’s workload had been manageable and consistent with district-wide averages.

According to official records, the BLO had been assigned 1,065 forms. Of these, 825 had already been recorded as distributed in the official portal. A field-level verification conducted on Sunday morning — the day of his death — found that only 50 forms remained to be delivered. Officials added that some of the unrecorded forms had already been distributed in the field but had not been digitally updated on the portal.

In addition, the district administration said assistance had been provided. A Village Field Assistant had been assigned to help him starting November 15.

Electoral Registration Officer and deputy collector Latha Devi reiterated that no adverse instructions, pressure, or reprimands had been issued to any BLO, including the deceased. She emphasised that the SIR exercise was being conducted through standard procedures and that the administration was closely monitoring workloads across all booths.

Additional ERO Vinod EV stated that the BLO’s interactions with officers prior to his death had been routine. According to him, the Booth Level Supervisor reached out to the deceased around 8:45 a.m. on Sunday. During their conversation, the BLO reportedly said he would personally complete the remaining work and did not request any additional help.

No Confirmed Link to SIR Duties, Says District Administration

Collector Vijayan stressed that, as of now, no evidence has emerged linking the death to the SIR responsibilities. Administrative checks of phone records, official interactions, and field reports have not indicated any pattern of harassment, pressure, or undue stress from superiors.

However, the collector also noted that the police investigation remains ongoing. The administration would cooperate fully with law enforcement and would not draw final conclusions until the police complete their inquiry.

Unions Raise Concerns Over Workload

Despite the district administration’s assurances, the incident has ignited strong reactions from unions representing state government employees and teachers.

The Action Council of State Government Employees and Teachers, along with the Teachers Service Organisation Protest Committee, issued a joint statement saying BLOs had been given targets that were “humanly impossible” to achieve within the deadline. The organisations argued that many BLOs were being forced to work late into the night and on weekends, with little regard for their personal wellbeing.

These groups claim that the SIR exercise, traditionally conducted over a longer period, has been compressed into an unrealistic schedule this year, increasing pressure on field-level workers. They also allege that support systems for BLOs vary widely across districts, leaving many of them to navigate large booth areas without adequate administrative help.

Tension Between Official Records and Ground Realities

The discrepancy between district officials’ data and the family’s narrative has widened the debate over working conditions faced by BLOs. Administrative statistics indicate that the deceased was on track to complete his responsibilities, had help assigned to him, and was not lagging behind booth-level averages.

However, family members and some local representatives claim that the psychological pressure of unfamiliar terrain, the fear of missing deadlines, and the stress of late-night work had taken a toll on him.

The deceased’s father reiterated that his son had struggled due to being assigned a neighbourhood he did not know well and was anxious about completing his tasks. A local ward member supported this version by recounting how the BLO had left Sunday mass early, citing unfinished work.

Investigations Continue

While the incident has reignited conversations about the conditions under which ground-level election workers operate, officials insist that conclusions should not be drawn prematurely. The police are continuing their investigation, and forensic reports, phone data, and final statements from colleagues and supervisors will help determine whether work pressure played any role.

The tragedy has nevertheless underscored the vulnerabilities of frontline workers who play a vital role in ensuring the integrity of India’s electoral system. As protests continue and administrative reviews deepen, the incident may prompt discussions on strengthening support mechanisms for BLOs, refining their workloads, and ensuring that the demands of democratic processes never come at the cost of human lives.