Image used for representational purposes. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
The Election Commission has asked the West Bengal Chief Secretary to comply with its directions by February 17, including paying increased remuneration to BLOs and lodging an FIR against errant officials who willfully violated norms during the ongoing SIR exercise.
In a meeting with Chief State Secretary Nandini Chakraborty on Friday (February 13, 2026) at Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission (EC) top brass directed her to comply with the pending directions of the Election Commission by 5.30 pm on Tuesday.
The EC pulled up the West Bengal government for not releasing the increased honorarium for booth level officers (BLOs) and additional payment approved for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In August last year, the survey panel had doubled the annual remuneration of BLOs from ₹6,000 to ₹12,000 and increased the payment of BLO supervisors from ₹12,000 to ₹18,000. It also approved honorarium for Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AERO).
Another key issue is the EC’s instructions to the state government to file FIRs against dubious officials who “willfully violated” norms during the SIR process.
Ms Chakraborty was called up by the EC when she took over as Chief Secretary in January this year. Assembly elections are being held in West Bengal in the next two months.
In addition, EC representatives wanted to discuss unresolved issues with her, the official added.
The probe panel had asked the West Bengal government for files against the four officers last year. The government suspended them and departmental proceedings were also initiated but no FIR was registered against them.
Published – 15 Feb 2026 19:51 IST