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class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">V. S. Sampath</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. 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.mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size: 100%;"><div class="fn" style="font-size:125%;">Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:Shri_V._S._Sampath_assuming_the_charge_of_the_Election_Commissioner,_in_New_Delhi_on_April,_21,_2009.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Shri_V._S._Sampath_assuming_the_charge_of_the_Election_Commissioner%2C_in_New_Delhi_on_April%2C_21%2C_2009.jpg/220px-Shri_V._S._Sampath_assuming_the_charge_of_the_Election_Commissioner%2C_in_New_Delhi_on_April%2C_21%2C_2009.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="161" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Shri_V._S._Sampath_assuming_the_charge_of_the_Election_Commissioner%2C_in_New_Delhi_on_April%2C_21%2C_2009.jpg/330px-Shri_V._S._Sampath_assuming_the_charge_of_the_Election_Commissioner%2C_in_New_Delhi_on_April%2C_21%2C_2009.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Shri_V._S._Sampath_assuming_the_charge_of_the_Election_Commissioner%2C_in_New_Delhi_on_April%2C_21%2C_2009.jpg/440px-Shri_V._S._Sampath_assuming_the_charge_of_the_Election_Commissioner%2C_in_New_Delhi_on_April%2C_21%2C_2009.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2200" data-file-height="1614" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="color: #202122; background:lavender;line-height:normal;padding:0.2em;">18th <a href="/wiki/Chief_Election_Commissioner_of_India" title="Chief Election Commissioner of India">Chief Election Commissioner of India</a></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data" style="border-bottom:none"><span class="nowrap"><b>In office</b></span><br />11 June 2012 – 15 January 2015</td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="text-align:left">President</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Pratibha_Patil" title="Pratibha Patil">Pratibha Patil</a> <br /> <a href="/wiki/Pranab_Mukherjee" title="Pranab Mukherjee">Pranab Mukherjee</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="text-align:left"><span class="nowrap">Prime Minister</span></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Manmohan_Singh" title="Manmohan Singh">Manmohan Singh</a> <br /> <a href="/wiki/Narendra_Modi" title="Narendra Modi">Narendra Modi</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="text-align:left"><span class="nowrap">Preceded by</span></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/S._Y._Quraishi" title="S. Y. Quraishi">S. Y. Quraishi</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="text-align:left"><span class="nowrap">Succeeded by</span></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Harishankar_Brahma" title="Harishankar Brahma">Harishankar Brahma</a></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="color: #202122; background:lavender">Personal details</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Born</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Vellore" title="Vellore">Vellore</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a> <span style="display:none"> (<span class="bday">1950-01-16</span>) </span>16 January 1950<span class="noprint ForceAgeToShow"> (age 74)</span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Nationality</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/India" title="India">Indian</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Profession</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Civil_service" title="Civil service">Civil servant</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below" style="border-top: 1px solid right;"><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath</b> (Tamil: வீரவல்லி சுந்தரம் சம்பத்) served as 18th <a href="/wiki/Chief_Election_Commissioner_of_India" title="Chief Election Commissioner of India">Chief Election Commissioner</a> (CEC) of the <a href="/wiki/Election_Commission_of_India" title="Election Commission of India">Election Commission of India</a> from 2012 to 2015 . He succeeded <a href="/wiki/S._Y._Quraishi" title="S. Y. Quraishi">S. Y. Quraishi</a> as the Chief Election Commissioner on 11 June 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Born on 16 January 1950, Sampath retired on 15 January 2015 when he attained 65 years of age. <sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Early_career">Early career</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Early career"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In his early career in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the southern part of India, Shri Sampath was the administrative head (District Collector) of large Indian districts between 1975 and 1986. This stint, apart from giving him a strong grounding in public administration and policy implementation, also provided a good exposure to election organization at the grass root level. As the District Collector of several coastal districts, Shri Sampath led large teams in managing natural disasters and cyclone relief in rural areas, an experience that required execution abilities under extreme pressure and timelines. </p><p>Subsequently, Shri V S Sampath also led several state owned financial institutions and federations such as the Apex Co-operative Bank, Handloom Marketing Society, and Oil Seeds Federation in Food and Public Distribution Department, Industries Department and Finance Department between 1986 and 1989. This provided a strong footing in managing organizations and working towards realization of organizational goals in compressed timeframes. He will serve as CEC until he reaches the retirement age of 65 on 16 January 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-toi_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-toi-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Middle_career">Middle career</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Middle career"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Subsequently, between 1990 and 2004, Shri Sampath moved to the upper echelons of the state administration, wherein he held several challenging portfolios like Secretary in Agriculture Department and Principal Secretary in Energy Department. </p><p>His period as Principal Secretary Energy ushered in the first instance of large-scale power sector reforms in a large state like Andhra Pradesh, and enabling the opening up of the sector for the private sector investment in power sector. The work of the Energy department and the state administration in reforming the power sector has been internationally appreciated, and has demonstrated how effective governance and reforms could reduce AT&C losses and improve distribution efficiencies. </p><p>Subsequently, Shri Sampath then served as Principal Secretary, Finance wherein he handled the state finances of Andhra Pradesh, a state with an annual budget of over Rs. 51,000 crores (or $8 billion) and a population of over 80 million. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Recent_Years">Recent Years</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Recent Years"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the past few years Shri Sampath held several important postings in Central Government. Starting with a stint in the Union Ministry of Rural Development. In 2005, Shri Sampath was appointed as Director General, National Institute of Rural Development. Subsequently, he held the post of Secretary, Chemicals and Petrochemicals where he was pivotal in conceptualizing and implementing the PCPIR policy to help the growth of the Petrochemical sector in India by facilitating massive investments in the identified Regions. </p><p>Later, he also served as Secretary, in the Central Power Ministry, where he was instrumental in implementing several forward-thinking policies to aid the sector. Among them was Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP), a mega-package for the renovation and modernization of Indian power utilities to help them improve their performance.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="As_CEC">As CEC</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: As CEC"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>To his credit, as Chief Election commissioner, Sampath has smoothly conducted the largest electoral exercise in the history of world democracies - <a href="/wiki/2014_Indian_general_election" title="2014 Indian general election">2014 Indian general election</a>-the 14th general elections in India, where 550 million voters out 814 million eligible voters participated and the highest voting percentage was recorded since Indian independence-66.7%. This election was applauded as the largest electoral exercise in the world, and drew international praise.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Discovery Channel also did a special show called The World's Biggest Election.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Sampath has brought with him to the office of CEC, a style of quiet efficiency,<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> effective planning and time-bound execution. An outstanding example of his brand of election management is the recently conducted Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir elections. Both these elections were conducted in adverse circumstances - Jharkhand on the back of Maoist violence, and J&K on the back of floods and perennial terrorism issues.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, the election was executed to clockwork precision, and this achievement was noted by all as 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 least amount of media interaction and hype. Leaders of major political parties in J&K also complimented the free & fair election process.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Electoral_innovations_as_CEC">Electoral innovations as CEC</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Electoral innovations as CEC"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>As Chief Election Commissioner, Sampath pioneered several reforms in poll management, the primary among them being : </p> <ul><li>Expenditure monitoring.</li> <li>Flying squads and surveillance teams were set up to monitor election expenditure of candidates during the election. This exercise was maximised during the General Elections 2014, where over 21000 flying squads were deployed] to monitor candidate expenditure. These teams enabled seizures of cash of Rs 313 crore, 2.2 lakh litres of liquor valued at Rs 1,000 crore and 1.85 lakh kg of drugs.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Commission also deployed a "standard operating procedure for flying squads and static surveillance teams" that was quite effective in checking usage of cash in elections.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Sampath played a role in introduction of <a href="/wiki/Voter-verified_paper_audit_trail" title="Voter-verified paper audit trail">Voter-verified paper audit trail</a> (VVPAT) in eight Lok Sabha constituencies in Indian General Elections.<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto1-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Voter-verified_paper_audit_trail" title="Voter-verified paper audit trail">Voter-verified paper audit trail</a> (VVPAT) system was first used with <a href="/wiki/Indian_voting_machines" class="mw-redirect" title="Indian voting machines">EVMs</a> in a by-poll in September 2013 in <a href="/wiki/Noksen_(Assembly_Constituency)" class="mw-redirect" title="Noksen (Assembly Constituency)">Noksen (Assembly Constituency)</a> in Nagaland.<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_12-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto1-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> VVPAT was used in gradual manner in all elections starting from September 2013- <a href="/wiki/2013_Mizoram_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2013 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election">2013 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2013_Delhi_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election">2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2013_Madhya_Pradesh_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2013 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election">2013 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2013_Rajasthan_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2013 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election">2013 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2013_Chhattisgarh_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2013 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election">2013 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2014_Indian_general_election" title="2014 Indian general election">2014 Indian general election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2014_Maharashtra_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election">2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2014_Haryana_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly election">2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2014_Jammu_and_Kashmir_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election">2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election</a>, <a href="/wiki/2014_Jharkhand_Legislative_Assembly_election" title="2014 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election">2014 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election</a><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/None_of_the_above" title="None of the above">NOTA</a> was also an option on <a href="/wiki/Indian_voting_machines" class="mw-redirect" title="Indian voting machines">Indian voting machines</a> during his tenure.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Sampath also introduced the Systematic Voter Awareness and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Program to increase participation of voters in elections.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This move has borne exceptional results with every election in his tenure recording higher turnouts than before, and the 2014 General Election recording the highest turnout since Indian Independence.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Under Sampath's tenure, the Election Commission has also taken many steps to make voting convenient and comfortable for voters. The Election Commission devised Model Voting Stations, a polling station with all basic amenities and essential requirements to make voting an enjoyable experience.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>V. S. Sampath also emphasized voting rights for <a href="/wiki/Non-resident_Indian_and_person_of_Indian_origin" class="mw-redirect" title="Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin">NRIs</a> through proxy voting.Later <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_India" title="Supreme Court of India">Supreme Court of India</a> awarded voting rights to NRIs on 12 January 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Invocation_of_Article_324_of_the_Constitution_of_India">Invocation of Article 324 of the Constitution of India</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Invocation of Article 324 of the Constitution of India"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Article 324 of the Indian Constitution is the basic article for the Election Commission that provides for powers to ensure free and fair elections in India. However, in comparison to earlier Election Commissions, Sampath was the first to invoke the powers under Article 324 to take strong disciplinary actions in the sphere of free and fair elections. </p><p>As an unprecedented move, Sampath banned several campaigners from the General Elections 2014 for hate speeches during the campaign time.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This put a check to polarizing speeches by political parties in the run up to the General Elections, and all subsequent elections. </p><p>Further, in comparison to earlier Election Commissioners who were content with making recommendations to amend the law with regarding to Election Expenditure, Sampath was the first CEC who invoked the power of Article 324 to issue transparency guidelines.<sup id="cite_ref-auto_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This move sparked several protests by political parties, who cited lack of jurisdiction on part of the Election Commission to issue such orders.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, in another unprecedented step, the Election Commission issued a clarification that such guidelines are binding, and any non-compliance would result in invocation of the draconian Para 16A of the Symbols Order 1968.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Para 16A allows for the Election Commission to de-recognize a political party, a step that would deny the party of free airtime on state owned channels / radio, lack of access to free electoral rolls and non-availability of subsidized land for party offices.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This greatly gives teeth to the Election Commission in managing election expenditure. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Personal_life">Personal life</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Personal life"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>VS Sampath is considered low-profile and efficient in execution of the job at hand.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He is variously described as god-fearing, media-shy and self-effacing.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Famously, as CEC during the General Elections 2014 (when the nation's administration was under his control), he went to the famous Tirupati temple and had a laghu darshan from a distance like any ordinary citizen,<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> setting an example for functionaries in high office. </p><p>Sampath lives in Delhi with his wife, and has two children, a son and a daughter.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (December 2021)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Disqualification_in_the_Ashok_Chavan_case">Disqualification in the Ashok Chavan case</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Disqualification in the Ashok Chavan case"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the landmark judgement in the Ashok Chavan case in the case of inaccurate electoral rolls in the 2009 election, the Election Commission held -<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>"Para 94 - Having regard to the totality of the circumstances mentioned above relating to the publication of the aforesaid 25 advertisements in various newspapers referred to above, the Commission is of the considered view that respondent cannot validly claim ignorance about the publication of the abovementioned 25 advertisements in which his name, the name of his constituency and also his photograph prominently appeared." </p><p>Thus Ashok Chavan was issued a show-cause notice for disqualification in the above case. This sets a bench-mark for accurate election reporting, and the Election Commission, under Sampath, for the first time, took the pathbreaking decision of moving towards disqualification of a politician for inaccurate reporting of poll expenses. The matter is now in appeal in the Delhi high Court. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Expenditure_reform">Expenditure reform</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Expenditure reform"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Sampath is noted to be the first CEC to have taken far-reaching steps in expenditure management. Among these steps include static surveillance squads to monitor election expenditure of candidates, organizing expenditure observers during elections and maintaining shadow accounts for candidates.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Importantly, Sampath issued the "Transparency guidelines" for political parties, thereby making it mandatory for them to file semi-annual returns of their balance sheets & and income statements.<sup id="cite_ref-auto_25-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Views_on_electoral_reforms">Views on electoral reforms</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Views on electoral reforms"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>V. S. Sampath believes that the Election Commission should be given greater autonomy and more power for its effective functioning. He advocates for a strong law to curb the practice of <a href="/wiki/Paid_news" class="mw-redirect" title="Paid news">paid news</a>. He has suggested the <a href="/wiki/Parliament_of_India" title="Parliament of India">Parliament</a> to take up <a href="/wiki/Right_to_reject" class="mw-redirect" title="Right to reject">right to reject</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="margin-left:0.1em; white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="The text near this tag may need clarification or removal of jargon. (February 2014)">clarification needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Advocating such a move, he said, "Right to reject is an idea inherent to democracy, whose time for execution has come".<sup id="cite_ref-hindu_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hindu-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140502215237/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/ecs.aspx">"Welcome to Election Commission of India"</a>. <i>eci.nic.in</i>. 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Press Trust of India. 18 May 2014.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Business+Standard+India&rft.atitle=Elections+2014+took+18+months+of+planning&rft.date=2014-05-18&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.business-standard.com%2Farticle%2Felections-2014%2Felections-2014-took-18-months-of-planning-114051800153_1.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AV.+S.+Sampath" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.livemint.com/Politics/d75NZvoRo2BvxdRv6wl7CJ/General-election-in-India--The-time-of-reckoning.html">"General election in India | the time of reckoning"</a>. 13 March 2014.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=General+election+in+India+%26%23124%3B+the+time+of+reckoning&rft.date=2014-03-13&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livemint.com%2FPolitics%2Fd75NZvoRo2BvxdRv6wl7CJ%2FGeneral-election-in-India--The-time-of-reckoning.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AV.+S.+Sampath" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20150118133157/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/CEC-has-Balaji-Darshan-at-Tirumala-as-a-Commoner/2014/03/09/article2098810.ece">"CEC has Balaji Darshan at Tirumala as a Commoner"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/CEC-has-Balaji-Darshan-at-Tirumala-as-a-Commoner/2014/03/09/article2098810.ece">the original</a> on 18 January 2015.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=CEC+has+Balaji+Darshan+at+Tirumala+as+a+Commoner&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fcities%2Fhyderabad%2FCEC-has-Balaji-Darshan-at-Tirumala-as-a-Commoner%2F2014%2F03%2F09%2Farticle2098810.ece&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AV.+S.+Sampath" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141226170043/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/current/Ashok_Chavan_order_13072014.pdf">"Archived copy"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/current/Ashok_Chavan_order_13072014.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 26 December 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 December</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Archived+copy&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Feci.nic.in%2Feci_main1%2Fcurrent%2FAshok_Chavan_order_13072014.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AV.+S.+Sampath" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">cite web</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_archived_copy_as_title" title="Category:CS1 maint: archived copy as title">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150510024005/http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/elections-2014-took-18-months-of-planning/841162">"Elections 2014 Took 18 Months of Planning | May 18,2014"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Elections-2014-Took-18-Months-of-Planning/841162">the original</a> on 10 May 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 December</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Elections+2014+Took+18+Months+of+Planning+%26%23124%3B+May+18%2C2014&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.outlookindia.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FElections-2014-Took-18-Months-of-Planning%2F841162&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AV.+S.+Sampath" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-hindu-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-hindu_34-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSebastian,_Sunny2012" class="citation news cs1">Sebastian, Sunny (25 August 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3821697.ece">"Sampath wants greater autonomy for EC"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Hindu" title="The Hindu">The Hindu</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/Jaipur" title="Jaipur">Jaipur</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">12 January</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Hindu&rft.atitle=Sampath+wants+greater+autonomy+for+EC&rft.date=2012-08-25&rft.au=Sebastian%2C+Sunny&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehindu.com%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Farticle3821697.ece&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AV.+S.+Sampath" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid 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href="/wiki/Kalyan_Sundaram" title="Kalyan Sundaram">Kalyan Sundaram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/S._P._Sen_Verma" title="S. P. Sen Verma">S. P. Sen Verma</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nagendra_Singh" title="Nagendra Singh">Nagendra Singh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/T._Swaminathan" title="T. Swaminathan">T. Swaminathan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/S._L._Shakdhar" title="S. L. Shakdhar">S. L. Shakdhar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/R._K._Trivedi" title="R. K. Trivedi">R. K. Trivedi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/R._V._S._Peri_Sastri" title="R. V. S. Peri Sastri">R. V. S. Peri Sastri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/V._S._Ramadevi" title="V. S. Ramadevi">V. S. Ramadevi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/T._N._Seshan" title="T. N. Seshan">T. N. Seshan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/M._S._Gill" title="M. S. Gill">M. S. Gill</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">2001–2050</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0;text-align:left;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/James_Michael_Lyngdoh" title="James Michael Lyngdoh">J. M. Lyngdoh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/T._S._Krishnamurthy" title="T. S. Krishnamurthy">T. S. Krishnamurthy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/B._B._Tandon" title="B. B. Tandon">B. B. Tandon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/N._Gopalaswami" title="N. Gopalaswami">N. Gopalaswami</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Navin_Chawla" title="Navin Chawla">Navin Chawla</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/S._Y._Quraishi" title="S. Y. Quraishi">S. Y. Quraishi</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">V. S. Sampath</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harishankar_Brahma" title="Harishankar Brahma">H. S. Brahma</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Syed_Nasim_Ahmad_Zaidi" title="Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi">Nasim Zaidi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Achal_Kumar_Jyoti" title="Achal Kumar Jyoti">A. K. Jyoti</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Om_Prakash_Rawat" title="Om Prakash Rawat">O. P. Rawat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sunil_Arora" title="Sunil Arora">Sunil Arora</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sushil_Chandra" title="Sushil Chandra">Sushil Chandra</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rajiv_Kumar_(civil_servant)" title="Rajiv Kumar (civil servant)">Rajiv Kumar</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1&useformat=desktop" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&oldid=1252576645">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=V._S._Sampath&oldid=1252576645</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Chief_Election_Commissioners_of_India" title="Category:Chief Election Commissioners of India">Chief Election Commissioners of India</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Living_people" title="Category:Living people">Living people</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:1950_births" title="Category:1950 births">1950 births</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_archived_copy_as_title" title="Category:CS1 maint: archived copy as title">CS1 maint: archived copy as title</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_matches_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description matches Wikidata">Short description matches Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Use_dmy_dates_from_September_2019" title="Category:Use dmy dates from September 2019">Use dmy dates from September 2019</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Use_Indian_English_from_September_2019" title="Category:Use Indian English from September 2019">Use Indian English from September 2019</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_Wikipedia_articles_written_in_Indian_English" title="Category:All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English">All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_unsourced_statements" title="Category:All articles with unsourced statements">All articles with unsourced statements</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_unsourced_statements_from_December_2021" title="Category:Articles with unsourced statements from December 2021">Articles with unsourced statements from December 2021</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Wikipedia_articles_needing_clarification_from_February_2014" title="Category:Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2014">Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2014</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Commons_category_link_is_on_Wikidata" title="Category:Commons category link is on Wikidata">Commons category link is on Wikidata</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 21 October 2024, at 23:55<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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