T. N. Seshan

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T. N. Seshan
T.N. Seshan in 1994.jpg
10th Chief Election Commissioner of India
In office
December 12, 1990 – December 11, 1996
Prime Minister V. P. Singh
Chandra Shekhar
P.V. Narasimha Rao
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
H.D. Deve Gowda
Preceded by V. S. Ramadevi
Succeeded by M. S. Gill
18th Cabinet Secretary
In office
27 March 1989 – 23 December 1989
Preceded by B.G.Deshmukh
Succeeded by V. C. Pande
Personal details
Born Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan
(1932-12-15) 15 December 1932 (age 92)
Palakkad, Kerala
Alma mater Madras Christian College
Harvard University
Awards Ramon Magsaysay award, 1996

T. N. Seshan was the Chief Election Commissioner of India (1990–96), who largely ended malpractices in elections held in the country,[1] by introducing major reforms and redefining the status and visibility of the Election Commission of India.[2][3] An Indian Administrative Service officer, he earlier served as the 18th Cabinet Secretary in 1989. He won the Magsaysay award for government service in 1996.[4]

Early life and education

Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan was born on 15 December 1932 in a Tamil-speaking family which had migrated from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu and settled in Thirunellai, Palakkad district, Kerala on May 15, 1933. He completed his schooling from Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School and intermediate from Government Victoria College, Palakkad. He obtained his graduation from the Madras Christian College. He then went to study at Harvard University on Edward S. Mason Fellowship where he earned a master's degree in public administration. (Class of 1968)

Career

Seshan wanted to join the Indian Civil Service. He was accepted into the Indian Police Service in 1953. He wrote the civil service exam again next year and was accepted into the Indian Administrative Service. He joined the IAS as a trainee in 1955.

An officer of the Indian Administrative Service, he held the following posts:-

  • Director, Department of Atomic Energy
  • Joint secretary, Department of Space
  • Secretary, Department of Agricultures, Government of Tamil Nadu
  • Member (Personnel), Oil & Natural Gas Commission
  • Additional Secretary, Department of Space
  • Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Defence, and
  • Secretary, Internal Security
  • Director ,Government Transport, Government of Tamil Nadu.

He went on to occupy the post of Cabinet Secretary, the senior most position in the Indian Civil Service hierarchy, and Member, Planning Commission of India, before being appointed the Chief Election Commissioner. He contested for the post of President of India in 1997 and lost to K.R. Narayanan. He is often known for his crisp one-liners, be it during his service to his superiors and ministers or while facing the media.

On 17th Oct 2012, The Madras High Court appointed T.N Seshan as an interim administrator to run the Pachaiyappa’s Trust in Chennai [5]

Chief Election Commissioner

As the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India, T.N. Seshan's name became synonymous with transparency and efficiency.[1] when he managed to stamp his authority on the country's electoral system by conducting the cleanest elections in living memory."Nobody dared to violate the law."[6][7] Poll changes ushered in by him would often pit the political class and their media cronies not just against each other, but also against him, the election watchdog, getting labeled, in turn as - "Al-Seshan (Alsatian)"[8] so much so, that electoral 'battles' would be dubbed by them as:[9]

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"Seshan versus Nation"

Major achievements

Implementation of revolutionary measures in election process and Abolition of several malpractices:[10]

  • Instrumental in strict implementation election code of conduct
  • Issuance of Voter IDs for all eligible voters
  • Limit on candidates expenditure in his/her election
  • Progressive and autonomous Election commission machinery. Drafted election officials from states other than the one facing polls.[11]
  • Bribe or intimidate voters
  • Not Distribute liquor during the elections.
  • Use official machinery for campaigning.
  • Appeal to voters' caste or communal feelings.
  • Use places of worship for campaigns.
  • Use loudspeakers without prior written permission.

References

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External links

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  4. ↑ Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation http://www.rmaf.org.ph/index.php?task=4&year=1990
  5. ↑ Seshan to take care of Pachaiyappa’s trust http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article1303162.ece
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