Former Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, Pioneer for Third-Gender Voting Rights, passes away at 79

Former Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, Pioneer for Third-Gender Voting Rights, passes away at 79
Navin Chawla, a trailblazing figure in India’s electoral landscape, passed away in Delhi at the age of 79. As the 16th Chief Election Commissioner, he left an indelible mark on the country’s democratic process. One of his most notable achievements was introducing a significant reform that allowed third-gender voters to identify themselves as ‘Others’ rather than being forced to choose between ‘Male’ or ‘Female’.
This groundbreaking move promoted inclusivity and equality in India’s electoral system on ballots, a move that promoted inclusivity and equality.
The Election Commission of India remembered Navin Chawla’s advocacy for constitutional reforms during his tenure as the 16th Chief Election Commissioner. Specifically, he pushed for equal treatment in the removal process of election commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner, seeking to align the two procedures.
The statement stated, “His leadership and commitment to the electoral process will continue to inspire us at the Election Commission of India”.
Navin Chawla, a distinguished alumnus of the 1969 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. He took office as an Election Commissioner on May 16, 2005, and served in this capacity until April 20, 2009. Subsequently, he assumed the role of Chief Election Commissioner, a position he held until July 29, 2010.
Navin Chawla and controversies
Navin Chawla’s tenure at the Election Commission of India was marred by controversy, with the then opposition BJP accusing him of being biased. The controversy reached a boiling point in 2009 when then-Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami recommended Chawla’s removal, citing a petition filed by the BJP alleging partisan behavior. This was not the first time Chawla faced opposition; in 2006, BJP leader L K Advani and 204 MPs petitioned President APJ Abdul Kalam to remove Chawla, and the party even took the matter to the Supreme Court. Despite these challenges, Chawla remained in office until his term ended.
Navin Chawla’s early days:
Navin Chawla was born on July 30, 1945, and began his educational journey at The Lawrence School in Sanawar. He later attended St. Stephen’s College in Delhi, laying the groundwork for a distinguished career in civil service. Throughout his career, Chawla took on various roles and responsibilities, with occasional postings in other union territories. However, his professional life was largely centered in Delhi. He rose through the ranks to become a Union secretary, and later, an Election Commissioner (EC). One of his most notable achievements was overseeing the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
Navin Chawla: The Man Behind the Biography of Mother Teresa
Navin Chawla’s literary contributions include a comprehensive biography of Mother Teresa, first published in the UK in 1992. The book has since been translated into multiple languages and reprinted in various editions. In addition to his biography on Mother Teresa, Navin Chawla collaborated with acclaimed photographer Raghu Rai on the book “Faith and Compassion: The Life and Work of Mother Teresa”, which was published in the UK in 1997.
As the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Navin Chawla proposed a significant constitutional amendment to the law ministry. He sought to equalize the removal process of election commissioners with that of the CEC, making it possible only through impeachment by a two-thirds majority of MPs present and voting. Chawla’s recommendation was motivated by two previous incidents, including a demand for his removal by his predecessor. He emphasized the need for protection of election commissioners by urging then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to expedite the amendment.
Despite Navin Chawla’s efforts, the process for removing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) remains unchanged to this day.