Sampath, who has another seven months of services left in the IAS, has sought for an early retirement to assume the constitutional position of the EC.
As per the rules, it is mandatory that the constitutional authorities should not be in any government service at the time of assumption of office.
Image: Power Ministry farewells to V S Sampath at Shramshakti Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday
Photo: Domal Kamraju