the first Muslim Chief Election Commissioner of India

SY Quraishi

The President of India appointed the senior Election Commissioner, Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi as the Chief Election Commissioner [CEC] in the Election Commission of India. With this the lone and first Muslim Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, got glory to become the first Muslim Chief Election Commissioner of India.

He will assume the office with effect from the 30th July, 2010 as the present Chief Election Commissioner Navin B. Chawla will leave the office on attaining the age of sixty- five years on 29th July, 2010.

The 63-year old Quraishi who has already served the Election Commission for more than four years, will enjoy the prestegious post of CEC a little more than two years. He was appointed as Election Commissioner on June 30, 2006.

Born on July 11, 1947, in Delhi, he is an IAS officer of 1971 batch from Haryana cadre and had worked in the governments both centre and state levels giving special contribution in the areas of social sector reforms covering health, education, population, drug abuse and civil society action. Before being Election Commissioner he also served as Secretary of Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

He has held various other top posts in his life including Director General of the National Aids Control Organization (NACO), Director General, Doordarshan, Director General of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Director of the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

A post graduate in history Quraishi, before joining Civil Service had earned distinction for his study of modern Persian, Arabic and German languages. Later he also received Ph.D degree in communication and Social Marketing.

He is also known for his extensive work in the field of population, women and child development, youth and adolescent issues. The UN and other international organizations have availed his experience in these areas.

He authored a number of books, articles and papers on different topics related to democracy, elections and social sector issues. His two famous books are “Islam, Muslims and Family Planning in India” and “Islam and AIDS.”