Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, 30 July 2010: Dr. Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi today assumed charge as the new Chief Election Commissioner of India. He is the first Muslim in the country to occupy the post.

The President had appointed Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi, who would be the senior-most Election Commissioner, succeeding Navin B Chawla .

Quraishi would have tenure of just less than two years, until he attains the age of 65 in July, 2012.

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 the election commissioner that he was proud to be a 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.