S.Y. Quraishi is new chief election commissioner

S.Y. Quraishi is new chief election commissioner

2010-07-27
Shahbuddin Yaqoob Quraishi was Tuesday appointed by President Pratibha Patil as the new Chief Election Commissioner, officials said.

Quraishi, who is currently working as one of the two election commissioners, will succeed Navin Chawla, who retires Thursday.

'The president is pleased to appoint the senior-most election commissioner as the Chief Election Commissioner,' said a statement issued here.

The 63-year-old Quraishi is a 1971 batch Haryana cadre IAS officer.

He has held various key positions, including working as sports secretary. He was special secretary in the health ministry, director general of National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and director general of Doordarshan.

He was appointed election commissioner June 30, 2006 after 35 years in the civil services. V.S. Sampath is the other election commissioner.

Quraishi will assume charge with effect from Thursday, the statement said. Quraishi, who will be heading the three-member election commission, will have less than two years till he turns 65 years.

The election commissioner demits office either when he reaches the age of 65 years or after a tenure of six years - whichever is earlier.

His immediate job will be conducting assembly elections in Bihar later this year and also polls in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Assam next year