M. S. Gill

Manmohan Singh Gill
Chief Election Commissioner of India
In office 1996–2001
Preceded by	T.N. Seshan
Succeeded by	J.M. Lyngdoh
Personal details
Born	(1936-06-14) 14 June 1936
Nationality	Indian
Spouse(s)	Vinnie Gill
Occupation	Civil servant

M. S. Gill (born 14 June 1936) is an Indian politician, of the Indian National Congress party, has served as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.^[1] He represents Punjab in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.

Early life and career

M. S. Gill attended St. George's College in Mussoorie, India. In 1958, he joined the Indian Administrative Services and served in administration at various places in different capacities in the undivided Punjab until 1966 when Punjab was trifurcated to carve out separate states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. His various postings included as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Mahendragarh, now in Haryana, Deputy Commissioner of the then Lahaul-Spiti district, now in Himachal Pradesh. He also served as the Agriculture Secretary of Punjab from 1985-1987 under Captain Amarinder Singh who was then the Agriculture Minister of Punjab.

Gill served as the Chief Election Commissioner of India from 1996 to 2001 succeeding T. N. Seshan. His major achievement was introduction of Electronic Voting machines which curbed malpractices to a large extent. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his work in this post.^[2]

In April 2008, Gill was inducted as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, as a replacement for Mani Shankar Aiyar. After the Congress Party won the 2009 Indian election, he was re-inducted to the same position. Later after a cabinet reshuffle he was dropped from the union cabinet.

Personal life

MS Gill got married in 1965 to Vinnie Gill. The couple have three daughters Natasha, Kaveri and Gauri.

References