S.K. Mendiratta

Legal Adviser
Election Commission of India
Focus Area(s)
Elections
Critical Tasks
Election security
Securing elections
Voter registration
Interviewers
Michael Scharff
Country of Reform
India
Town/City
New Delhi
Country
India
Date of Interview
Monday, November 15, 2010
Abstract
S.K. Mendiratta speaks about his work with the Election Commission of India. He opens the discussion by describing the system of vulnerability mapping in order to determine the areas most prone to election violence and intimidation. This included finding areas that had unusually low turnout and providing them with police protection. He notes that known trouble makers are put under increased police monitoring during this time as well. In the second part of the interview, Mendiratta elaborates on the efforts of the Election Commission to curb voter intimidation. These included unique methods such as video monitoring at polls in order to ensure legal compliance. He concludes his discussion by adding detail on the accountability measures keeping watch of the Election Commission. Through focusing on the attitudes of outgoing opposition parties, they are able to determine the perceived fairness of the election.
 

Full Interview

74 MB
S.K. Mendiratta Interview
Profile

At the time of the interview, S.K. Mendiratta was the legal advisor to the Election Commission of India. He began his career nearly 46 years earlier as an assistant in the Election Commission. Beginning in 1979, Mendiratta was responsible for all legal affairs of the commission, including electoral reform legislation and litigation work of the commission before the Supreme Court and High Courts in India. Although he had been retired for 13 years at the time of the interview, Mendiratta continued much of his work in an advisory position. 

Keywords
codes of conduct
dispute resolution
Election Management Body
election security
Election Violence
enfranchising marginalized groups
monitoring
Voter Registration
Not specified