BP:Blocking policy: Difference between revisions

Blocks may be imposed as a technical measure to enforce a ban. Such blocks are based on the particulars of the ban. Bans that apply to all of Bharatpedia—that is, they are not partial—may be backed up by a sitewide block, which is usually set to apply for the period of the ban. Other bans may be enforced with a partial block.  

If the rationale for a block depends on information that is not available to all administrators, that information should be sent to the [[BP:ARB|Arbitration Committee]], a [[Bharatpedia:Checkuser|Checkuser]], or an [[BP:SIGHT|Oversighter]] ([[Bharatpedia:Arbitration Committee/Noticeboard/Archive 13#Special Circumstances Blocks|as applicable]]) for action. These editors serve as [[BP:FUNCT|functionaries]]; they are qualified and trusted to handle non-public evidence, and they operate under strict controls. The community has rejected the idea of individual administrators acting on evidence that cannot be peer-reviewed. Administrators must be able to justify their blocks using evidence visible on Bharatpedia, even if it includes aspects only accessible by other administrators (e.g. revisions or log details that are [[BP:REVDEL|redacted]], or deleted pages).  

Administrators who are also Checkusers or Oversighters may block users based on non-public information either revealed through the [[Special:CheckUser|checkuser function page]], or revisions and log details that have been suppressed ("oversighted"). These administrators may also make blocks based on off-wiki evidence of sockpuppetry and [[BP:UPE|undeclared paid editing]] submitted through the email addresses below; [[Bharatpedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Conflict of interest management#New VRT queue established|April 2024 decision]]</ref> This evidence is inaccessible to administrators. As such, an administrative action is generally viewed to be made in the user's capacity as a Checkuser or Oversighter, although the action itself is an administrative one. All such blocks are subject to review by other members of the [[BP:FUNCT|functionary team]], and direct review by the [[Bharatpedia:Arbitration Committee|Arbitration Committee]].

* To unblock any of one's own accounts, except in the case of self-imposed blocks.  

Any user may comment on an unblock request; however, only administrators may resolve the request (by either declining or unblocking).  

Without first consulting with a [[Bharatpedia:CheckUser|CheckUser]] and receiving approval, administrators must not undo or "loosen" (lowering the block duration or disabling any block options applied) any block set, or unblock any user when the block is specifically identified as a ''"CheckUser block"'', such as through the use of the {{tl|checkuserblock}} or {{tl|checkuserblock-account}} templates in the action summary, or by explicitly stating in the action summary that the block is a "CheckUser block" or is "checkuser-related".<ref>Non-CheckUsers must not review CheckUser blocks that require access to CheckUser data, e.g., when an editor is professing innocence or is questioning the validity of the technical findings in any way. Administrators may still decline unblock requests that are made in bad faith, are more procedural in nature, or are off topic.</ref> If an administrator believes that a CheckUser block has been made in error, the administrator should first discuss the matter with the CheckUser in question, and if a satisfactory resolution is not reached, should e-mail the [[BP:ARBCOM|Arbitration Committee]]. Any unauthorized reversal or alteration of such a block and without prior consultation and approval from a CheckUser may result in [[Bharatpedia:Arbitration Committee/Procedures#Removal of permissions|removal of permissions]].  

Without first consulting with an [[Bharatpedia:Oversight|Oversighter]] and receiving approval, administrators must not undo or "loosen" (lowering the block duration or disabling any block options applied) any block set, or unblock any user when the block is specifically identified as an ''"Oversight block"'', such as through the use of the {{tl|OversightBlock}} template in the action summary, or by explicitly stating in the action summary that the block is an "Oversight block" or is "Oversight-related". Appeals of any [[Bharatpedia:Blocking policy#Confidential evidence|Oversight blocks]] that are set must be sent to either the Oversight team via email ({{Oversight email}}) to be discussed in private by the English Bharatpedia Oversight team, or to the [[Bharatpedia:Arbitration Committee/Ban appeals|Arbitration Committee]]. Blocks may still be marked by the blocking Oversighter as appealable only to the Arbitration Committee, per [[Special:Permalink/374236496#Statement on checkuser blocks|the 2010 statement]], in which case appeals must only be directed to the Arbitration Committee.

Partial blocks may be used at the discretion of any administrator in accord with the rest of the blocking policy, or community consensus. They may also be used to [[#Enforcing bans|enforce editing restrictions]]<ref name="er11Jan"/> or as a requirement for [[#Conditional unblock|conditional unblocks]].