Election Commission restructures IT wing, keeping DG Seema Khanna under deputy commissioner
A new work allocation order formally places the director general of IT under a deputy election commissioner, ensuring administrative oversight remains intact.
What happened
The Election Commission of India has issued a revised work allocation order confirming that its director general of information technology, Seema Khanna, reports directly to a deputy election commissioner, preserving institutional checks within the poll body's digital operations.
Under the fresh order issued on 4 November, Khanna is assigned to the supervisory charge of newly appointed Deputy Election Commissioner Prakash Raj Purohit. The poll authority clarified on Thursday that institutional oversight of the technology division remained intact throughout recent administrative transitions, dismissing suggestions that the division had functioned without higher bureaucratic supervision.
The clarification follows debates over an earlier work allocation issued on 28 July by senior Deputy Election Commissioner Manish Garg. That order proposed transferring information technology and grievance redressal systems directly to Khanna, which would have removed an intermediate reporting layer and allowed the IT chief to report straight to the Commission.
Who is involved and how the structure changed
The poll panel comprises Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alongside Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and SS Sandhu. When the July order was initially drafted, Joshi and Sandhu raised procedural concerns regarding internal workflows, and the directive was immediately placed in abeyance. The Commission subsequently informed the Supreme Court that the July order was never put into effect.
Commission officials explained that Khanna had reported to Deputy Election Commissioner Sanjay Kumar until his transfer to the Delhi government. Following Kumar's departure, Garg acted as the designated link officer, maintaining administrative supervision over the IT wing until Purohit assumed charge.
| Period | IT supervisory authority | Reporting channel |
|---|---|---|
| Prior to July 2026 | Sanjay Kumar (DEC) | Routable via deputy election commissioner |
| 28 July order (unimplemented) | Commission directly | Direct access to CEC and ECs |
| Interim link period | Manish Garg (Senior DEC) | Maintained via link officer |
| 4 November order | Prakash Raj Purohit (DEC) | Formally restored via deputy election commissioner |
Why the administrative safeguard matters
The IT directorate oversees crucial national digital systems, including the public grievance redressal portal and the centralised software powering the electoral roll. The Commission moved swiftly to ensure that technical administration remains securely tied to senior administrative supervision, reinforcing the statutory authority of grassroots Electoral Registration Officers.
By retaining an experienced Indian Administrative Service officer as the immediate reporting authority for technology operations, the poll body reaffirmed its structured hierarchy. Election officials stated that the revision standardises operational governance across departments, keeping digital upgrades fully harmonised with field-level election management across the country.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Date of fresh work allocation order | 4 November 2026 | Election Commission of India |
| Date of earlier unimplemented order | 28 July 2026 | Election Commission of India |
Questions readers are asking
Did Seema Khanna ever report directly to the Election Commission?
No. The Election Commission stated that the 28 July order allowing direct reporting was never implemented, and that supervision continued under senior deputy election commissioners.
Who oversees the Election Commission's IT division now?
Under the 4 November work allocation order, the director general of IT reports to newly appointed Deputy Election Commissioner Prakash Raj Purohit.
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Election Commission of India | The national election authority issuing the revised work allocation order. |
| Seema Khanna | Director General of Information Technology at the Election Commission. |
