Inside ECI: July 28 Work Allocation Order Sparks Objections Over Distribution Of Key Responsibilities
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A work allocation order was issued on July 28 within the Election Commission of India (ECI), which became a point of contention over the distribution of administrative, IT and grievance-related responsibilities among senior officials, as per News18 India reports.
A report citing sources says two Election Commissioners raised objections to the July 28 work order, with the matter subsequently discussed within the Commission.
Furthermore, Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected to the changes introduced through the order. The issue was also referred to in separate letters written by the two Election Commissioners to the Cabinet Secretary on July 29.
According to sources, the letters raised issues concerning work distribution, the work roster and the issuance of the order without the knowledge of the Commission. The exact contents of the letters have not been made public.
The July 28 work order was issued by then Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and officer in charge of administrative matters, Manish Garg.
Administrative matters in the Election Commission are assigned to DEC Bhanu Pratap Yeturu. Sources said Yeturu was on leave at the time, following which Garg issued the order in his capacity as the officer handling administrative matters as in-charge.
IT Responsibilities Changed In July 28 Order
The July 28 work order brought a significant change in the allocation of IT-related responsibilities within the Commission.
According to the copy accessed by News18 India, IT and Grievances/PGRS responsibilities were taken away from Deputy Election Commissioner Sanjay Kumar and assigned directly to Director General (IT) Seema Khanna.
Under the revised arrangement, there was no Deputy Election Commissioner between the Election Commission and the DG (IT) in the reporting structure for these subjects.
Sanjay Kumar, meanwhile, continued to be responsible for electoral roll-related matters.
It must also be noted that nearly a month after the work order, DEC Sanjay Kumar was prematurely repatriated from the ECI to his parent cadre on personal grounds, according to a DoPT order.
What The Earlier Work Order Showed
The News18 India reported that they also accessed an earlier work allocation order issued on September 23, 2025.
The seventh column of that order showed that DEC Sanjay Kumar was responsible for electoral rolls, IT and Grievances/PGRS.
Under the earlier arrangement, DG (IT) Seema Khanna reported to Sanjay Kumar on IT-related matters. The formal reporting chain therefore ran through the Deputy Election Commissioner before reaching the Election Commission.
Sources said that although Seema Khanna was handling a substantial part of the day-to-day IT work, the formal reporting structure continued through DEC Sanjay Kumar.
The July 28 order changed this arrangement by shifting IT and Grievances/PGRS responsibilities directly to the DG (IT).
Why The Work Order Became Significant
Sources said the controversy was not confined to the allocation of administrative responsibilities. The work order also determined the distribution of responsibilities among different Deputy Election Commissioners.
Traditionally, sources said, work allocation orders within the Election Commission have been placed before the Commission, with final approval taken at the Commission level.
The July 28 order therefore raised questions over the process through which the revised distribution of responsibilities was issued.
Earlier Arrangement Reportedly Restored Orally
Sources said that after objections were raised, the earlier work allocation arrangement was verbally restored.
However, according to sources, no separate written order has so far been issued formally recording the restoration of the earlier arrangement.
This has raised questions over the formal status of the work allocation and the reporting structure for IT and grievance-related matters.
Consequently, with DEC Sanjay Kumar leaving the Election Commission office and no DEC-level officer between the DG (IT) and the Commission, the formal order issued on July 28 has become effective, according to sources.
The issue assumes significance because work allocation orders determine not only the distribution of responsibilities among senior officials but also the reporting channels through which various departments function and submit matters to the Election Commission.
July 28 Work Order And The 8 Points At The Centre Of The Controversy
1. Order Issued Without Commission Knowledge
The July 28 work order was issued without the knowledge of the two Election Commissioners.
2. Two Election Commissioners Raised Objections
Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections to the changes introduced through the July 28 work order and to the order being issued without the Commission’s knowledge.
3. Letters Sent To Cabinet Secretary
Following the work order, both Election Commissioners wrote separate letters to the Cabinet Secretary on July 29.
The letters raised issues related to work distribution, the work roster and the issuance of the order without the Commission’s knowledge. The exact contents of the letters have not been made public.
4. July 28 Allocation Differed From Earlier Arrangement
The revised work allocation was different from the earlier arrangement dated September 23, 2025, under which DEC Sanjay Kumar was responsible for Electoral Rolls, IT and Grievances/PGRS.
5. Earlier IT Reporting Structure
Under the earlier arrangement, DG (IT) Seema Khanna reported to DEC Sanjay Kumar on IT-related matters, with the formal reporting chain running through the DEC to the Election Commission.
Under the July 28 order, IT and Grievances/PGRS responsibilities were shifted from DEC Sanjay Kumar to DG (IT) Seema Khanna.
6. DEC-Level Reporting Layer Removed
The new arrangement under the July 28 work order removed the DEC-level reporting layer between the DG (IT) and the Election Commission for these responsibilities.
7. Order Issued While Administrative Officer Was On Leave
The July 28 work order was issued by then Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and officer in charge of administrative matters, Manish Garg.
The order was issued at a time when DEC Bhanu Pratap Yeturu, who was responsible for administrative matters, was reportedly on leave.
8. Sanjay Kumar Later Repatriated
Within about a month of the July 28 work order, DEC Sanjay Kumar was prematurely repatriated from the Election Commission to his parent cadre on personal grounds, according to a DoPT order.
The developments surrounding the July 28 work allocation order have since brought renewed attention to the internal distribution of responsibilities and reporting channels within the Election Commission.
