T. N. Seshan

Seshan made India's Election Commission an assertive enforcer of electoral standards, including the Model Code of Conduct. He also challenged the government's creation of a multi-member commission, arguing that it compromised his position as chief election commissioner. The Supreme Court rejected that challenge in 1995 and upheld collective decision-making. This is a useful example of both sides of independence: the commission must resist executive pressure, but the individual leading it does not possess unlimited authority over colleagues.