Quraishi appointed new CEC

S Y Quraishi was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner, succeeding Navin Chawla. Quraishi will conduct assembly elections in Bihar this year. Quraishi is a 1971-batch IAS officer. He said that Indian elections are known for its scale and credibility reports The Times of India.

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S Y Quraishi, Election Commissioner, was on Tuesday appointed the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in the place of Navin Chawla, who demits office on Thursday.

Quraishi, a thoroughbred civil servant, will conduct assembly elections in Bihar later this year and in a bunch of states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Assam next summer.

"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. It would be my utmost endeavour to prove myself worthy of this trust," Quraishi told PTI reacting to his appointment.

A 1971-batch IAS officer, Quraishi entered the Commission in June 2006 after 35 years in the civil service in both the Centre and state levels. Prior to joining the Commission, he was Secretary in the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry at the Centre.

He had held several key positions in the government and made special contribution in the area of social sector reforms covering health, education, population, drug abuse and civil society action.

Quraishi said during the last four years as Election Commissioner, he was proud to be part of one of the august institutions that the framers of the Constitution have gifted to the country while insulating it from all possible pressures.

"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 elections in India were known not only for their scale, but also for their credibility.

"I realise the responsibility that the Election Commission carries towards keeping India's democracy firmly on the rails. I have abiding faith that the Commission will continue to deliver on its mandate, in the face of all challenges old and new, as it has always done in the past," he added.