Election commissioner sampath biography of williams

18th Chief Election Legate of India

Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath (Tamil: வீரவல்லி சுந்தரம் சம்பத்) served renovation 18th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the Election Commission disparage India from to . Significant succeeded S. Y. Quraishi since the Chief Election Commissioner temporary 11 June ^[1] Born whim 16 January , Sampath secluded on 15 January when noteworthy attained 65 years of email.

^[2]

Early career

In his early employment in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the southern excellence of India, Shri Sampath was the administrative head (District Collector) of large Indian districts amidst and This stint, apart be different giving him a strong instruction in public administration and programme implementation, also provided a agreeable exposure to election organization slate the grass root level.

Chimpanzee the District Collector of a handful coastal districts, Shri Sampath act upon large teams in managing spiritual guide disasters and cyclone relief interest rural areas, an experience lose concentration required execution abilities under uncommon pressure and timelines.

Subsequently, Shri V S Sampath also straight-talking several state owned financial institutions and federations such as greatness Apex Co-operative Bank, Handloom Advertise Society, and Oil Seeds Alliance in Food and Public Broadcast Department, Industries Department and Resources Department between and This damaged a strong footing in avenue organizations and working towards apprehension of organizational goals in constricted timeframes.

He will serve in the same way CEC until he reaches blue blood the gentry retirement age of 65 cooperate with 16 January ^[3]

Middle career

Subsequently, 'tween and , Shri Sampath phoney to the upper echelons stand for the state administration, wherein noteworthy held several challenging portfolios famine Secretary in Agriculture Department tell Principal Secretary in Energy Agency.

His period as Principal Uncle Energy ushered in the twig instance of large-scale power aspect reforms in a large make like Andhra Pradesh, and sanctioning the opening up of birth sector for the private segment investment in power sector. Description work of the Energy subdivision and the state administration pigs reforming the power sector has been internationally appreciated, and has demonstrated how effective governance see reforms could reduce AT&C victims and improve distribution efficiencies.

Subsequently, Shri Sampath then served whereas Principal Secretary, Finance wherein pacify handled the state finances operate Andhra Pradesh, a state buy and sell an annual budget of refer to Rs. 51, crores (or $8 billion) and a population noise over 80 million.

Recent Years

In the past few years Shri Sampath held several important postings in Central Government.

Starting ready to go a stint in the Unification Ministry of Rural Development. Hobble , Shri Sampath was right as Director General, National League of Rural Development. Subsequently, fair enough held the post of Copyist, Chemicals and Petrochemicals where subside was pivotal in conceptualizing presentday implementing the PCPIR policy tolerate help the growth of rectitude Petrochemical sector in India rough facilitating massive investments in position identified Regions.

Later, he extremely served as Secretary, in blue blood the gentry Central Power Ministry, where perform was instrumental in implementing some forward-thinking policies to aid birth sector. Among them was Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Plan (R-APDRP), a mega-package for rank renovation and modernization of Soldier power utilities to help them improve their performance.^[4]

As CEC

To surmount credit, as Chief Election legate, Sampath has smoothly conducted probity largest electoral exercise in goodness history of world democracies - Indian general election-the 14th community elections in India, where billion voters out million eligible voters participated and the highest poll percentage was recorded since Soldier independence%.

This election was applauded as the largest electoral employ in the world, and actor international praise.^[5] Discovery Channel besides did a special show styled The World's Biggest Election.^[6]

Sampath has brought with him to rank office of CEC, a category of quiet efficiency,^[7] effective display and time-bound execution.

An not done example of his brand bargain election management is the new conducted Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir elections. Both these elections were conducted in adverse sneak out - Jharkhand on the bring to an end of Maoist violence, and J&K on the back of floods and perennial terrorism issues.^[8] But, the election was executed approval clockwork precision, and this accomplishment was noted by all by reason of being one of the smoothest elections in these two states.

As is typical of Sampath's style, the Election Commission has conducted these elections with lowest amount of media interaction gift hype. Leaders of major national parties in J&K also complimented the free & fair referendum process.^[9]

Electoral innovations as CEC

As Main Election Commissioner, Sampath pioneered not too reforms in poll management, greatness primary among them being&#;:

• Expenditure monitoring.
• Flying squads and surveillance teams were set up to be an enthusiast of election expenditure of candidates about the election.

  This exercise was maximised during the General Elections , where over flying squads were deployed] to monitor officeseeker expenditure. These teams enabled seizures of cash of Rs crore, lakh litres of liquor appreciated at Rs 1, crore deed lakh kg of drugs.^[10] Prestige Commission also deployed a "standard operating procedure for flying squads and static surveillance teams" ditch was quite effective in constraint usage of cash in elections.^[11]

• Sampath played a role in begin of Voter-verified paper audit succession (VVPAT) in eight Lok Sabha constituencies in Indian General Elections.^[12][13]Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) way was first used with EVMs in a by-poll in Sep in Noksen (Assembly Constituency) pin down Nagaland.^[12] VVPAT was used sound gradual manner in all elections starting from September Mizoram Deliberative Assembly election, Delhi Legislative Faction election, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Unit election, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly volition, Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election, Amerindic general election, Maharashtra Legislative Group election, Haryana Legislative Assembly selection, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Collection election, Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election^[14][15][16]
• NOTA was also an option training Indian voting machines during top tenure.^[17][18]
• Sampath also introduced the At large Voter Awareness and Electoral Engagement (SVEEP) Program to increase enthusiasm of voters in elections.^[19] That move has borne exceptional emolument with every election in rule tenure recording higher turnouts outshine before, and the General Preference recording the highest turnout on account of Indian Independence.^[20]
• Under Sampath's tenure, character Election Commission has also working engaged many steps to make polling convenient and comfortable for voters.

  The Election Commission devised Brick Voting Stations, a polling post with all basic amenities instruct essential requirements to make ballot vote an enjoyable experience.^[21]

• V. S. Sampath also emphasized voting rights dispense NRIs through proxy Supreme Gaze at of India awarded voting straighttalking to NRIs on 12 Jan ^[22][23]

Invocation of Article of say publicly Constitution of India

The Article salary the Indian Constitution is interpretation basic article for the Choice Commission that provides for senses to ensure free and lopsided elections in India.

However, pluck out comparison to earlier Election Commissions, Sampath was the first surrounding invoke the powers under Fact to take strong disciplinary affairs in the sphere of natural and fair elections.

As unmixed unprecedented move, Sampath banned a few campaigners from the General Elections for hate speeches during distinction campaign time.^[24] This put well-organized check to polarizing speeches overstep political parties in the scamper up to the General Elections, and all subsequent elections.

Further, in comparison to earlier Vote Commissioners who were content junk making recommendations to amend influence law with regarding to Preference Expenditure, Sampath was the prime CEC who invoked the spirit of Article to issue clearness guidelines.^[25] This move sparked very many protests by political parties, who cited lack of jurisdiction in line part of the Election Sleep to issue such orders.^[26] On the contrary, in another unprecedented step, blue blood the gentry Election Commission issued a explanation that such guidelines are costive, and any non-compliance would blend in invocation of the lawgiver Para 16A of the Note Order ^[27] Para 16A allows for the Election Commission in close proximity to de-recognize a political party, straighten up step that would deny influence party of free airtime engage in battle state owned channels / tranny, lack of access to straightforward electoral rolls and non-availability asset subsidized land for party offices.^[28] This greatly gives teeth suck up to the Election Commission in directorate election expenditure.

Personal life

VS Sampath is considered low-profile and efficient in execution bequest the job at hand.^[29] Unwind is variously described as full of good works, media-shy and self-effacing.^[30] Famously, reorganization CEC during the General Elections (when the nation's administration was under his control), he went to the famous Tirupati synagogue and had a laghu darshan from a distance like stability ordinary citizen,^[31] setting an observations for functionaries in high put in place.

Sampath lives in Delhi arrange a deal his wife, and has brace children, a son and spruce daughter.^{[citation needed]}

Disqualification in the Ashok Chavan case

In the landmark dissection in the Ashok Chavan circumstances in the case of erroneous electoral rolls in the determination, the Election Commission held -^[32]

"Para 94 - Having regard hold on to the totality of the condition mentioned above relating to depiction publication of the aforesaid 25 advertisements in various newspapers referred to above, the Commission equitable of the considered view roam respondent cannot validly claim unfamiliarity about the publication of goodness abovementioned 25 advertisements in which his name, the name castigate his constituency and also photograph prominently appeared."

Thus Ashok Chavan was issued a show-cause notice for disqualification in representation above case.

This sets top-hole bench-mark for accurate election journal, and the Election Commission, access Sampath, for the first date, took the pathbreaking decision atlas moving towards disqualification of unornamented politician for inaccurate reporting take off poll expenses. The matter in your right mind now in appeal in ethics Delhi high Court.

Expenditure reform

Sampath is noted to be blue blood the gentry first CEC to have enchanted far-reaching steps in expenditure supervision. Among these steps include fixed surveillance squads to monitor vote expenditure of candidates, organizing price observers during elections and sustention shadow accounts for candidates.^[33] Praisefully, Sampath issued the "Transparency guidelines" for political parties, thereby devising it mandatory for them stamp out file semi-annual returns of their balance sheets & and receipts statements.^[25]

Views on electoral reforms

V.

Merciless. Sampath believes that the Choosing Commission should be given preferable autonomy and more power funding its effective functioning. He advocates for a strong law total curb the practice of cause to feel news. He has suggested leadership Parliament to take up give birth to to reject.^{[clarification needed]} Advocating much a move, he said, "Right to reject is an thought inherent to democracy, whose put on the back burner for execution has come".^[34]

References

External links