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Politics
ECI Reinstates Oversight of IT Director-General via Senior Deputy EC
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 10:39 AM
👁 20
The Election Commission of India has issued a new order requiring the Director-General (IT) to route files through Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Pawan Kumar Sharma, reversing a previous decision from July.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified the administrative oversight structure regarding its Information Technology (IT) department. A recent order dated October 4 mandates that Ms. Khanna, serving as the Director-General (IT), must route all files related to IT/ICT and Grievances/PGRS through Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Pawan Kumar Sharma.
This directive effectively reinstates the supervisory role of the Senior Deputy Election Commissioner over the IT division. The move reverses an earlier administrative order dated July 28, which had sought to remove this specific layer of oversight from the workflow.
The change in protocol highlights the internal administrative adjustments within the ECI regarding the management of digital infrastructure and public grievance redressal systems. By routing files through a senior official, the Commission aims to ensure stricter compliance and hierarchical control over IT-related operations.
The decision underscores the ongoing debates surrounding the autonomy and accountability of the ECI's technical wings, ensuring that critical digital functions remain under the direct scrutiny of senior election officials.
This directive effectively reinstates the supervisory role of the Senior Deputy Election Commissioner over the IT division. The move reverses an earlier administrative order dated July 28, which had sought to remove this specific layer of oversight from the workflow.
The change in protocol highlights the internal administrative adjustments within the ECI regarding the management of digital infrastructure and public grievance redressal systems. By routing files through a senior official, the Commission aims to ensure stricter compliance and hierarchical control over IT-related operations.
The decision underscores the ongoing debates surrounding the autonomy and accountability of the ECI's technical wings, ensuring that critical digital functions remain under the direct scrutiny of senior election officials.