Are Micro Observers of Election Commission of India act like Independent Directors of Corporate Houses?

Superintendence, direction and control of preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of elections, to Parliament and state legislatures and elections to the offices of President and Vic-President of India are vested in the Election Commission of India. It is an independent constitutional authority set up in pursuance of Article 324(1) of the Constitution of India. The literature on corporate governance and various codes emphasis that the Board of directors should provide direction to the company, evaluate and approve strategies, appoint and remove the chief executive officer and decide the compensation for him and other members of the top management. Model elections as well as good governance of Boards cannot be fully ensured by external legislation alone but has to build overtime and best set for success lies in building a climate of trust and candor in the ECI / Board to share important information with observers and directors in time, introducing measures for evaluating ECI’s and Board’s performance in terms of integrity of Micro Observers and Independent Directors, quality of them, degree of knowledge and personal relationships. The government expects Independent Directors to bring an independent judgment to bear on the Board’s deliberations especially on the issue of strategy, performance; risk management, resources, key appointments and standards of conduct and bring an objective view in the evaluation of performance of Board and management. Similarly ECI assumes that the micro observers will ensure free and fair election and they will act like an ear and eye of the election commission and ensure the entrusted great responsibility with upmost care. This paper try’s to bring out the similarities of ‘modus operandi’ between the Micro Observers and Independent Directors and the challenges cropping up in the changing socio, political, economic, eventual and technological environment of India.