[CA] T. N. Seshan

v Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan

v 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India (Dec 12, 1990 - Dec 11, 1996)

v 18th Cabinet Secretary of India in 1989

v He redeemed the autonomy and authority that the Constitution has bestowed upon ECI under Art. 324 of the Constitution.

v Won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service in 1996

v Some of reforms he implemented include enforcement of election code of conduct, Voter IDs for all eligible voters, limit on election candidates' expenditure, appointing election officials from states other than the one facing polls.

v He curbed several malpractices like bribing or intimidating voters, distribution of liquor during elections, use of government funds and machinery for campaigning, appealing to voters' caste or communal feelings, use of places of worship for campaigns, use of loudspeakers and high volume music without prior written permission.

v During the 1993 Indian general elections, due to his reforms, 1488 candidates were disqualified for three years for failing to submit their expenditure accounts. It was reported that he reviewed more than 40,000 expenditure accounts and disqualified 14,000 candidates for false information.

v After retirement as the Chief Election Commissioner, he contested the 1997 Indian presidential election and lost to K.R. Narayanan