Quraishi appointed new CEC

Shahabuddin Yaqub Quraishi will be the new Chief Election Commissioner of India. The government issued the notification of his appointment today and he will assume charge on July 30, following the retirement of the present incumbent, Navin Chawla. HTreports.

Shahabuddin Yaqub Quraishi will be the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. The government issued the notification of his appointment on Tuesday and he will assume charge on July 30, following the retirement of the present incumbent, Navin Chawla.

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Quraishi, 63, the seniormost Election Commissioner in the Commission, will hold the post for a little less than two years, and is scheduled to retire in 2012.

"In pursuance of Clause 2 of Art 324 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Shahabuddin Yaqub Quraishi as Chief Election Commissioner with effect from 30 July," said the Law Ministry notification.

A career bureaucrat, Quarashi, will preside over the three-member commission during the assembly elections in half a dozen states in 2010-11.

He has worked as the head of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and also as Secretary in the Sports Ministry, before being appointed as an Election Commissioner.

During his 35 year career, the 1971 batch IAS officer, also worked in key positions at the state level also.

"I feel deeply honoured on being entrusted with this assignment. Election Commission of India is an institution in which the nation places a great trust," the CEC designate said.

Quraishi said it would be his endeavour to keep the commission's flag flying high.

"The judiciary, especially the Supreme Court also has zealously guarded the Election Commission against any assault on its autonomy and independence and ensured that it grows from strength to strength, he said.

Quraishi had steered clear of the controversy between Chawla and then CEC, N Gopalaswamy, when the latter had recommended Chawla's removal as election commissioner, charging him of being biased.

The government will now have to appoint a third Election Commissioner also, since the post has fallen vacant following the elevation of Quraishi. V S Sampath is the other Election Commissioner.