EC introduces fresh checks on top officials as internal differences controversy deepens

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced fresh supervisory arrangements for key officials handling its IT systems and election-related responsibilities, amid allegations of internal differences within the poll panel. A work order issued on November 4 places Director General of IT Seema Khanna under the supervision of Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Pawan Kumar Sharma and redistributes some responsibilities among senior officials.

The latest changes come nearly 3 months after a controversial work-allocation order dated July 28 triggered objections from Election Commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Both had written to Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan, raising concerns over the changes and the manner in which responsibilities were assigned.

IT department placed under additional supervision

Under the November 4 order, Khanna, who handles IT/ICT and the Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS), will now route files relating to her divisions through Sharma.

The order states, “She would put up files of above mentioned functional divisions through Sr DEC (PKS).”

Sharma's responsibilities also include political parties, election expenditure policy, the observer division and coordination. He oversees the North East-II, East-II and South-II zones.

Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg will continue handling election planning, EVMs and the Election Database Management Division. However, Deputy Election Commissioner Prakash Rajpurohit will assist him with election planning and also handle delimitation.

The order states, “He will be supported by DEC (PR).”

Rajpurohit will route election planning files through Garg, while Deputy Election Commissioner Bhanu Prakash Yeturu will handle administration, establishment, electoral rolls and RTI matters.

July order triggered objections from commissioners

The latest arrangement follows the controversy surrounding Garg's July 28 work-allocation order. Sandhu and Joshi had separately written to the Cabinet Secretary on July 29, questioning the changes and alleging that the commissioners had not been consulted before responsibilities were reassigned.

Their concerns included the decision to change the reporting structure of the IT department under Khanna. The files had earlier been routed through Deputy Election Commissioner Sanjay Kumar.

The commissioners also cited Sections 18(1) and 18(2) of the 2023 CEC/EC Act. Joshi additionally alleged that a file he had sought from the Administration Division was not provided.

A senior EC official told Hindustan Times, “We can’t call this order a reversal of the July order because the previous order was never implemented,” adding that the latest decision was unanimous.

In an affidavit before the Supreme Court last month, the ECI maintained that the July 28 order was never implemented after a subsequent direction on July 30 recalled the changes.

IT system controversy adds to pressure on EC

Khanna and the IT department have also come under scrutiny following an Indian Express investigation which alleged that a new digital protocol restricted Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) from accessing voter database information, including records needed to add or delete names.

The ECI has denied allegations of differences among the commissioners, maintaining that decisions were taken unanimously or by majority, as permitted under the rules.

The controversy has meanwhile triggered protests by activists and Opposition parties, who have demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The BJP has accused the Opposition of attempting to undermine constitutional institutions.