Sat Feb 01 05:30:49 UTC 2025: **Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Navin Chawla, Passes Away at 79**
NEW DELHI, February 1, 2025 – Navin Chawla, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, passed away on Saturday at the age of 79 due to a cardiac arrest. Mr. Chawla, who served as CEC from 2009 to 2010 and as an Election Commissioner from 2005, was admitted to Apollo Hospital for brain surgery prior to his death. His cremation is scheduled for 5 p.m. today at the Green Park crematorium.
A long and distinguished career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), beginning in 1969, saw Mr. Chawla serve in various government roles, including postings in Delhi, Goa, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep. He also held key positions in the Ministries of Labour, Home, and Information and Broadcasting, where he played a significant role in developing “Open-Sky” policies.
Beyond his government service, Mr. Chawla was known for his association with Mother Teresa, whom he first met as a young civil servant. He authored her biography, “Mother Teresa,” published in 1992, and also produced a report on leprosy rehabilitation, released by Mother Teresa in 1987.
Mr. Chawla’s tenure as Election Commissioner was marked by controversy, with then-CEC N. Gopalaswami recommending his removal following complaints from the BJP about his impartiality. However, this recommendation was rejected by then-President Pratibha Patil, and a subsequent Supreme Court lawsuit seeking his removal was also dismissed. Despite this, his time as CEC saw the successful completion of the 2009 general elections and the initiation of several electoral reforms. His passing is mourned by many across India.
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