THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Feb 1: Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin B. Chawla passed away on Saturday at the age of 79. The Election Commission of India (ECI) observed mourning over his death.
Chawla, an officer from the 1969 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (AGMUT cadre), served as an Election Commissioner from May 16, 2005, to April 20, 2009, before assuming the role of CEC from April 21, 2009, to July 29, 2010.
The ECI, in an official statement, expressed deep sorrow over Chawla’s passing and acknowledged his significant contributions to India’s electoral system.
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During his tenure as CEC, he oversaw the successful conduct of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections in seven states. He played a crucial role in introducing electoral reforms, including granting third-gender voters the option to register under the “Other” category instead of being restricted to “Male” or “Female.”
Additionally, he advocated for constitutional changes to ensure that the process of removing Election Commissioners was at par with that of the Chief Election Commissioner.
He was recognized for his efforts in strengthening democratic processes in the country.
