The Election Commission of India (ECI) is facing scrutiny over two issues that have drawn attention to its functioning: an internal dispute involving two Election Commissioners and a senior official, and protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
A fresh Right to Information (RTI) disclosure has now shed light on what happened after two Election Commissioners approached the Cabinet Secretary over an officer’s conduct. The records show that the Cabinet Secretariat acknowledged their complaints but decided against initiating action, citing concerns about interference in the functioning of a constitutional body.
The disclosure comes as the People Against SIR alliance holds protests on Friday, 23 October, demanding that the voter-roll revision exercise be scrapped and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign.
Here is what the RTI documents reveal, why the internal dispute matters and what protesters are demanding.
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What Did The RTI Reveal About The Election Commission Dispute?
An RTI disclosure has revealed why the Cabinet Secretariat took no action on complaints filed by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi against senior official Maneesh Garg.
Both commissioners wrote to Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan on 29 July 2026, raising concerns about a work-allocation order Garg issued a day earlier. Garg had taken additional charge of the administration division while the deputy election commissioner responsible for it, Bhanu Prakash Yeturu, was on leave.
Sandhu said the changes were made without prior discussion with or information to the Commission or the commissioner concerned. Joshi said he had requested a file from the administration division but had not received it. Both raised concerns about changes being made without prior discussion or approval.
The Cabinet Secretariat reviewed the letters on 3 and 4 August. In its file noting, it said the two commissioners had written in their individual capacities, rather than on behalf of the Election Commission as a whole. It said taking action without an official communication from the full Commission could be seen as interference in the functioning of the constitutional body.
The Secretariat decided to acknowledge the complaints, inform the office of the Chief Election Commissioner and place the matter on record with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for future reference.
The file notings were released in response to an RTI application filed by transparency campaigner Commodore Lokesh K Batra (retired).
The Election Commission later said on 26 September that the disputed work-allocation orders had not been implemented following directions from the two commissioners.
Why Is SIR Facing Protests Today?
The internal dispute comes amid growing opposition to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
SIR is an exercise to verify voter details and update electoral rolls. Critics have raised concerns that eligible voters could lose their names, particularly if they struggle to provide the required documents or complete the verification process.
On 14 October 2026, the People Against SIR alliance was formed in New Delhi, bringing together organisations representing students, farmers, workers, women, Dalits, Adivasis and minorities.
The alliance organised the People's March to Restore Democracy on 23 October 2026, calling for people across the country to participate in protests under the slogan “Har Gali Mein Jantar Mantar”.
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Who Is Joining The People's March To Restore Democracy?
Economist and political commentator Parakala Prabhakar, husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is among the prominent figures expected to join the protest on Friday, 23 October.
Prabhakar announced his participation on 21 October in a post on X. He has described the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a “bloodless political genocide”, arguing that the removal of eligible voters' names could deprive citizens of their voting rights.
Other figures expected to attend include actor-activist Prakash Raj, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, All India Students' Association president Neha Bora, author Tushar Gandhi and Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke.
The alliance has also appealed to parties in the INDIA opposition bloc to participate in the march.
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What Are The Protesters Demanding?
The alliance's demands go beyond opposing the revision exercise itself. Its principal demands include:
Scrapping the ongoing SIR exercise.
Restoring the names of eligible voters removed from electoral rolls.
Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Wider public mobilisation to defend voting rights and democratic participation.
The alliance has called for people across different sections of society, including students, farmers, workers and marginalised communities, to take part. Its slogan, “Har gali mein Jantar Mantar”, reflects its appeal for protests and public mobilisation beyond a single venue.
The demands represent the organisers' position and should not be confused with decisions taken by the Election Commission or any judicial finding.
The Bigger Question: Accountability And Voter Rights
The RTI disclosure and the anti-SIR protests concern different aspects of the Election Commission's work, but both have brought its decision-making and accountability into focus.
The file notings reveal why the Cabinet Secretariat considered intervention in the commissioners' complaints inappropriate without formal communication from the Commission as a whole. Meanwhile, opponents of SIR are asking whether the voter-roll revision process could exclude eligible citizens and are seeking the exercise's withdrawal.
The immediate questions are whether the concerns raised over the internal dispute will receive further consideration and how the Election Commission will address objections to SIR. The answers matter because public confidence in elections depends not only on accurate voter lists, but also on transparent procedures and clear explanations of how decisions are made.
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TL;DR | News At Glance
What did the RTI reveal about complaints against Election Commission official Maneesh Garg?
An RTI reply revealed that the Cabinet Secretariat took no further action on complaints filed by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi against senior official Maneesh Garg.
Why did Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi complain against Maneesh Garg?
The two Election Commissioners raised concerns over a work-allocation order issued by Garg on 28 July 2026, alleging that changes were made without prior discussion with or information to the commissioners concerned.
What action did the Cabinet Secretariat take on the complaints?
The Cabinet Secretariat acknowledged the letters, informed the office of the Chief Election Commissioner and placed the matter on record with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for future reference.
Why did the Cabinet Secretariat not take further action?
According to the file noting disclosed in the RTI reply, the complaints were submitted by the commissioners in their individual capacities, rather than on behalf of the Election Commission of India as a whole.
Who filed the RTI application about the Election Commissioners’ complaints?
The RTI application was filed by transparency campaigner Commodore Lokesh K Batra (retired).
Were the disputed work-allocation orders implemented?
The Election Commission said on 26 September 2026 that the disputed orders were not implemented following directions from two commissioners.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
SIR is an Election Commission exercise to verify voter details and update electoral rolls. Critics have raised concerns that eligible voters could lose their names during the process.
Why are people protesting against SIR on 23 October 2026?
The People Against SIR alliance is organising the People’s March to Restore Democracy on 23 October, amid opposition to the voter-roll revision exercise.
Who is expected to join the anti-SIR protest?
Those expected to participate include economist and political commentator Parakala Prabhakar, actor-activist Prakash Raj, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, AISA president Neha Bora, author Tushar Gandhi and Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke.
What did Parakala Prabhakar say about SIR?
Prabhakar, the husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, described SIR as a “bloodless political genocide” in a post announcing his participation in the protest.
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