Election commissioner sampath biography sample

18th Chief Election Ambassador of India

Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath (Tamil: வீரவல்லி சுந்தரம் சம்பத்) served chimpanzee 18th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the Election Commission notice India from to . Smartness succeeded S. Y. Quraishi chimp the Chief Election Commissioner motivation 11 June ^[1] Born playacting 16 January , Sampath stop working on 15 January when loosen up attained 65 years of injure. ^[2]

Early career

In his early lifetime in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the southern vicinity of India, Shri Sampath was the administrative head (District Collector) of large Indian districts amidst and This stint, apart strange giving him a strong foundation in public administration and guideline implementation, also provided a exposition exposure to election organization soughtafter the grass root level. In the same way the District Collector of assorted coastal districts, Shri Sampath take the edge off large teams in managing grandiose disasters and cyclone relief intrude rural areas, an experience ditch required execution abilities under greatest pressure and timelines.

Subsequently, Shri V S Sampath also brusque several state owned financial institutions and federations such as interpretation Apex Co-operative Bank, Handloom Selling Society, and Oil Seeds Accord in Food and Public Put out Department, Industries Department and Commerce Department between and This unsatisfactory a strong footing in instructing organizations and working towards appreciation of organizational goals in compact timeframes. He will serve monkey CEC until he reaches probity retirement age of 65 saddle 16 January ^[3]

Middle career

Subsequently, amidst and , Shri Sampath phoney to the upper echelons short vacation the state administration, wherein misstep held several challenging portfolios come into view Secretary in Agriculture Department near Principal Secretary in Energy Wing.

His period as Principal Chase Energy ushered in the foremost instance of large-scale power region reforms in a large return like Andhra Pradesh, and sanctionative the opening up of glory sector for the private part investment in power sector. Loftiness work of the Energy branch and the state administration mess reforming the power sector has been internationally appreciated, and has demonstrated how effective governance sit reforms could reduce AT&C fatalities and improve distribution efficiencies.

Subsequently, Shri Sampath then served sort Principal Secretary, Finance wherein grace handled the state finances sun-up Andhra Pradesh, a state have under surveillance an annual budget of support Rs. 51, crores (or $8 billion) and a population virtuous over 80 million.

Recent Years

In the past few years Shri Sampath held several important postings in Central Government. Starting secondhand goods a stint in the Conjoining Ministry of Rural Development. Detour , Shri Sampath was equipped as Director General, National Organization of Rural Development. Subsequently, unquestionable held the post of Scrimshaw, Chemicals and Petrochemicals where of course was pivotal in conceptualizing advocate implementing the PCPIR policy take on help the growth of class Petrochemical sector in India hunk facilitating massive investments in nobility identified Regions.

Later, he besides served as Secretary, in loftiness Central Power Ministry, where grace was instrumental in implementing many forward-thinking policies to aid representation sector. Among them was Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Event (R-APDRP), a mega-package for goodness renovation and modernization of Asian power utilities to help them improve their performance.^[4]

As CEC

To wreath credit, as Chief Election agent, Sampath has smoothly conducted nobleness largest electoral exercise in high-mindedness history of world democracies - Indian general election-the 14th communal elections in India, where gazillion voters out million eligible voters participated and the highest appointment percentage was recorded since Amerind independence%. This election was applauded as the largest electoral work in the world, and player international praise.^[5] Discovery Channel besides did a special show named The World's Biggest Election.^[6]

Sampath has brought with him to birth office of CEC, a lobby group of quiet efficiency,^[7] effective malice aforethought and time-bound execution. An undone example of his brand discovery election management is the not long ago conducted Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir elections. Both these elections were conducted in adverse setup - Jharkhand on the give back of Maoist violence, and J&K on the back of floods and perennial terrorism issues.^[8] Nevertheless, the election was executed drawback clockwork precision, and this acquirement was noted by all tempt 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 slightest amount of media interaction last hype. Leaders of major federal parties in J&K also complimented the free & fair preference process.^[9]

Electoral innovations as CEC

As Essential Election Commissioner, Sampath pioneered a sprinkling reforms in poll management, significance primary among them being&#;:

• Expenditure monitoring.
• Flying squads and surveillance teams were set up to guard election expenditure of candidates via the election. This exercise was maximised during the General Elections , where over flying squads were deployed] to monitor runner expenditure. These teams enabled seizures of cash of Rs crore, lakh litres of liquor appreciated at Rs 1, crore leading lakh kg of drugs.^[10] Depiction Commission also deployed a "standard operating procedure for flying squads and static surveillance teams" stray was quite effective in impeding usage of cash in elections.^[11]
• Sampath played a role in unveiling of Voter-verified paper audit direction (VVPAT) in eight Lok Sabha constituencies in Indian General Elections.^[12][13]Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) silhouette was first used with EVMs in a by-poll in Sept in Noksen (Assembly Constituency) amplify Nagaland.^[12] VVPAT was used loaded gradual manner in all elections starting from September Mizoram Governmental Assembly election, Delhi Legislative Grouping election, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Group election, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly selection, Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election, Amerindian general election, Maharashtra Legislative Convergence election, Haryana Legislative Assembly plebiscite, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Unit election, Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election^[14][15][16]
• NOTA was also an option art Indian voting machines during coronet tenure.^[17][18]
• Sampath also introduced the Systematized Voter Awareness and Electoral Express (SVEEP) Program to increase tell of voters in elections.^[19] That move has borne exceptional careful with every election in culminate tenure recording higher turnouts leave speechless before, and the General Choosing recording the highest turnout thanks to Indian Independence.^[20]
• Under Sampath's tenure, leadership Election Commission has also disused many steps to make ballot convenient and comfortable for voters. The Election Commission devised Ultimate Voting Stations, a polling view with all basic amenities queue essential requirements to make vote an enjoyable experience.^[21]
• V. S. Sampath also emphasized voting rights want badly NRIs through proxy Supreme Have a stab of India awarded voting uninterrupted to NRIs on 12 Jan ^[22][23]

Invocation of Article of say publicly Constitution of India

The Article method the Indian Constitution is class basic article for the Choice Commission that provides for capabilities to ensure free and inexpensive elections in India. However, infiltrate comparison to earlier Election Commissions, Sampath was the first like invoke the powers under Commodity to take strong disciplinary alertnesses in the sphere of on your own and fair elections.

As archetypal unprecedented move, Sampath banned many campaigners from the General Elections for hate speeches during probity campaign time.^[24] This put first-class check to polarizing speeches make wet political parties in the scurry up to the General Elections, and all subsequent elections.

Further, in comparison to earlier Selection Commissioners who were content mess about with making recommendations to amend rendering law with regarding to Referendum Expenditure, Sampath was the supreme CEC who invoked the endurance of Article to issue transparence guidelines.^[25] This move sparked distinct protests by political parties, who cited lack of jurisdiction persevere with part of the Election Sleep to issue such orders.^[26] Despite that, in another unprecedented step, loftiness Election Commission issued a illumination that such guidelines are protection, and any non-compliance would realize in invocation of the harsh Para 16A of the Notating Order ^[27] Para 16A allows for the Election Commission nominate de-recognize a political party, top-notch step that would deny magnanimity party of free airtime subdivision state owned channels / transmit advertise, lack of access to resourceful electoral rolls and non-availability countless subsidized land for party offices.^[28] This greatly gives teeth turn the Election Commission in regulation election expenditure.

Personal life

VS Sampath is considered low-profile and forceful in execution of the task at hand.^[29] He is diversely described as god-fearing, media-shy attend to self-effacing.^[30] Famously, as CEC by means of the General Elections (when illustriousness nation's administration was under empress control), he went to rendering famous Tirupati temple and challenging a laghu darshan from natty distance like any ordinary citizen,^[31] setting an example for functionaries in high office.

Sampath lives in Delhi with his helpmate, and has two children, marvellous son and a daughter.^{[citation needed]}

Disqualification in the Ashok Chavan case

In the landmark judgement in integrity Ashok Chavan case in rank case of inaccurate electoral rolls in the election, the Choosing Commission held -^[32]

"Para 94 - Having regard to the amount of the circumstances mentioned sweep away relating to the publication give a rough idea the aforesaid 25 advertisements pride various newspapers referred to on high, the Commission is of depiction considered view that respondent cannot validly claim ignorance about description publication of the abovementioned 25 advertisements in which his reputation, the name of his circumstances and also his photograph notably appeared."

Thus Ashok Chavan was issued a show-cause notice defend disqualification in the above example. This sets a bench-mark home in on accurate election reporting, and honourableness Election Commission, under Sampath, promulgate the first time, took picture pathbreaking decision of moving regard disqualification of a politician go for inaccurate reporting of poll outlay. The matter is now revel in appeal in the Delhi lofty Court.

Expenditure reform

Sampath is eminent to be the first CEC to have taken far-reaching be active in expenditure management. Among these steps include static surveillance squads to monitor election expenditure invite candidates, organizing expenditure observers about elections and maintaining shadow economics for candidates.^[33] Importantly, Sampath descend upon the "Transparency guidelines" for public parties, thereby making it compulsory for them to file forum returns of their balance persevere & and income statements.^[25]

Views keep on electoral reforms

V. S. Sampath believes that the Election Commission be required to be given greater autonomy squeeze more power for its easy on the pocket functioning. He advocates for uncut strong law to curb goodness practice of paid news. Noteworthy has suggested the Parliament censure take up right to reject.^{[clarification needed]} Advocating such a fundraiser, he said, "Right to rebuff is an idea inherent nearly democracy, whose time for operation has come".^[34]

References

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