Election Commission's IT Division Back In Focus As EC Issues Fresh Work Allocation Order

The Election Commission of India (EC) has directed its Director General of Information Technology, Seema Khanna, to route files from the divisions she heads through Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Pawan Kumar Sharma.

The direction was issued through a work allocation order dated November 4, which takes immediate effect. It partially modifies an earlier office order dated September 23, 2025. The latest order comes amid a dispute over an earlier internal work allocation order, which was opposed by Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the two members of the Commission apart from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In an affidavit filed recently in the Supreme Court, the EC said internal work allocation had continued under the arrangement set out in the earlier office order dated September 23, 2025. The Commission said an order issued on July 28, 2026, by an IAS officer of the rank of Additional Secretary, who was on deputation to the EC, was never implemented.

According to the affidavit, the two election commissioners wrote separate letters to the Cabinet Secretary on July 29 in connection with the order. “In view of the joint direction dated 30 July 2026 by the two Election Commissioners, the order of 28 July 2026 was never implemented,” the affidavit stated.

In a press note issued after The Indian Express reported on the objections raised by the two commissioners in September, the EC said the letter to the Cabinet Secretary was not related to any policy matter concerning the Commission or its IT division.

It said the correspondence concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the EC. The Commission also clarified that the work redistribution orders issued by the officer had not been implemented. “The oversight over the IT division by the DEC was never actually withdrawn,” the press note said.

The EC directed its DG (IT), Seema Khanna, to route files through Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Pawan Kumar Sharma. This order, effective November 4, modifies a previous work allocation. The new directive was issued amidst a dispute over an earlier internal work allocation order.

This previous order was opposed by Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. No, an EC official confirmed there is no change in the DG (IT)'s reporting structure. She has consistently reported to a Deputy Election Commissioner-level officer.

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