Hyderabad: Two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, complained to Cabinet Secretary T. V. Somanathan about senior Election Commission official Maneesh Garg, according to documents released under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The commissioners sent separate letters on July 29, 2026, seeking appropriate action over changes to the allocation of work among senior officers of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Their complaints alleged that Garg revised the work distribution without prior discussion with the Commission or the officers concerned. The Cabinet Secretariat acknowledged both letters on August 5, 2026, and circulated copies to relevant officials.
The disclosed records establish that the complaints were made and acknowledged. However, they do not establish whether any subsequent inquiry or disciplinary action followed.
Commissioners Raise Objections Over Work Allocation
According to his letter, Sandhu said Garg received additional charge of the Administration Division on July 28 during the leave of Deputy Election Commissioner Bhanu Prakash Yeturu.
Sandhu alleged that Garg issued a revised work-allocation order within hours of assuming the additional responsibility. He objected that the order assigned responsibilities to Garg himself and to officers senior or equivalent to him.
Sandhu also alleged that the action disregarded repeated instructions requiring prior discussion or approval from the Commission. He cited Sections 18(1) and 18(2) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
Joshi raised similar objections in a separate letter. He alleged that Garg changed the allocation without consulting the Commission or informing him. Joshi also said the Administration Division did not provide a relevant file when he requested access.
Both commissioners sought appropriate action over the alleged violations.
Cabinet Secretariat Cautions Against Institutional Interference
A Cabinet Secretariat file note acknowledged the seriousness of the letters but cautioned against intervention without an official communication from the Commission as a whole.
The note said the complaints had been submitted by the commissioners in their individual capacities. It warned that intervention could be viewed as interference in the functioning of a constitutional body.
The note recommended acknowledging the letters and forwarding copies to senior officials in the Department of Personnel and Training and the Chief Election Commissioner’s office. The matter could also be retained for future consideration concerning Garg, an IAS officer appointed through the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The Cabinet Secretary subsequently acknowledged both communications. The RTI disclosure included office orders confirming Garg’s temporary additional charge and the revised allocation of work.
The application was filed on September 24 by Commodore Lokesh K. Batra (Retd.). The Cabinet Secretariat supplied 14 pages of documents after receiving the prescribed fee.
The development comes amid separate questions about disagreements within the Election Commission. The Indian Express reported on September 23 that the two commissioners had recorded objections on electoral-roll matters 14 times over 10 months.
However, the newly disclosed correspondence concerns work allocation and is separate from those electoral-roll objections. The available records do not establish whether further action was taken against Garg.
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