AShri A. Shajahan IAS, 2023
BK. Sreedharan, 1993
CT.N. Seshan, 1990
DSukumar Sen, 1950
Answer:
B. K. Sreedharan, 1993
Read Explanation:
State Election Commission (SEC)
Constitutional Basis
Articles 243K & 243ZA (added by 73rd & 74th Amendments, 1992).
Provides for a State Election Commission in every state and UT with a legislature.
Independent constitutional authority (not under the control of the State Government).
Composition
Head: State Election Commissioner (SEC).
Appointed by: Governor of the state.
Tenure: 5 years.
Removal: Like a High Court judge (cannot be removed by Governor alone → needs President’s order).
It is a single-member body (unlike ECI which has multiple members).
Powers & Functions
Conducts Elections
Panchayats (Village, Block, District).
Municipalities (Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation).
Prepares Voter Lists
Makes and revises electoral rolls for local body elections.
Manages Election Process
Fixes election schedule, conducts polling, counting, and declares results
Code of Conduct
Ensures free and fair local elections by enforcing a model code of conduct.
Dispute Handling
Can order re-polling or cancel elections if malpractices are found
Independence & Safeguards
SEC is independent of the State Government.
Expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State.
State Govt cannot interfere in its functioning.
K. Sreedharan was the first State Election Commissioner of Kerala (1993–1998).
Appointed in 1993, when the State Election Commission of Kerala was set up after the 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992) made local body elections compulsory.
He supervised the first elections to Panchayats and Municipalities in Kerala in 1995, under the new constitutional framework
Current State Election Commissioner of Kerala: Shri A. Shajahan IAS
Heads the State Election Commission, conducting all Panchayat and Municipality (urban and rural local body) elections and heading the Delimitation Commission for ward boundary revisions and related electoral structuring