Navin Chawla

Naveen Chawla is a former Chief Election Commissioner of India.^[1] Four phases (out of five) of the Indian general election to Loksabha were executed under his supervision in April and May 2009.^[2]

Chawla is best known for his pro-Indira Gandhi stance as secretary to the lieutenant governor of Delhi during the (1975–77) Indian Emergency^[3][4][5][6] and for his biography of Mother Teresa.^[7] The Shah Commission, an independent commission headed by former Chief Justice of India Jayantilal Chhotalal Shah which investigated atrocities during the Emergency, said in its final report that Chawla was "unfit to hold any public office which demands an attitude of fair play and consideration for others".^{[8][9][10][11][12]} However, the report was suppressed after Gandhi returned to power in 1980;^[13] as Prime Minister, she "recalled all reports of Shah Commission wherever possible".^[14] Despite concerns about his leanings towards the Congress Party Chawla is considered to have conducted the 2009 general elections in an even-handed manner, with action taken against alleged malpractice by Congress governments in Rajasthan, Assam and Andhra Pradesh and the Congress Allied government in Tamil Nadu.^[15][16][17] According to his family, Chawla was influenced by Mother Teresa and decided not to resign from the civil service in 1997 in accordance with her advice.^[18]

Early life and education

Chawla was born on 30 July 1945 in New Delhi. He studied at the Lawrence School, Sanawar, Himachal Pradesh from 1953 to 1961^[19] (when he received his Senior School Certificate), and received a Government of India scholarship for his first two years at the Lawrence School. Chawla received a B.A. (Hons.) in history from St. Stephen's College, Delhi in 1966 and a B.A. (Hons.) in history from London University in 1967. He received a diploma in social administration from the London School of Economics in 1968. Chawla was appointed a Fellow of Queen Elizabeth House at Oxford University in 1996.

Career

Chawla is an Indian Administrative Service officer from the class of 1969. He was appointed election commissioner in 2005, succeeding B. B. Tandon (who was promoted to Chief Election Commissioner of India). Chawla was in office from 16 May 2005 to 30 July 2010. His association with Mother Teresa resulted in his writing her official biography, Mother Teresa.^[20]

Earlier posts

He occupied a number of post both in the Central Government as well as Union Territories of Delhi, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. He rose to the highest levels becoming Additional Secretary and Secretary to the Government of India. These top level appointments were made interestingly during the Prime Ministership under the NDA Government headed by Prime Minister Vajpayee of the BJP

As election commissioner

Chawla has undertaken reforms of the electoral process and the election commission. He advocated a constitutional process for the removal of election commissioners, bringing it in line with that for removal of the chief election commissioner.^[21] Chawla was interested in ensuring that third gender individuals had the right to vote. They had been left out of the democratic process, since they could not register as male or female; they can register as “other”. The issue was broached by students at KIIT Law School, Bhubaneswar.^{[22][23][24][25]} He supported regulating the participation in the electoral process of those on trial. People on trial are not allowed to vote; however, they may stand for election until convicted.^[26]

Controversies

Role in Emergency (1975–77)

Chawla is best known in India for his association with the Emergency. He attended school with Sanjay Gandhi, younger son of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.^[27] Former Chief Justice of India Jayantilal Chhotalal Shah, chairman of the Shah Commission, asserted in the commission's report that Chawla was unfit for public office. The report was later rejected by the Congress government, headed by Gandhi, which returned to power in 1980. The government recalled all published reports and destroyed the copies; it is believed that no copies of the report remain in India.^[28][29] A third, final report by the commission is held by the National Library of Australia.^[30]

MPLADS FUNDS

Chawla and his wife Rupika ran the Jaipur-based Lala Chaman Lal Education Trust, called Darshan,looks after disabled hearing impaired children. which had obtained MPLADS funds from Congress MPs Akbar Ali Khan, R. P. Goenka, Ambika Soni, Karan Singh and A. R. Kidwai.^[31] The trust was allotted 6 acres (24,000 m²) of land by the Congress government in Rajasthan when Ashok Gehlot was Chief Minister.^[32][33]
Navin Chawla is running an another trust called 'Lepra India Trust' in Delhi treats leprosy effected cases. The trust also teaches hear impaired children and children belonging to poor family. All condition under the MPLAD act are scrupulously adhere too.

Alleged links with Congress

In March 2006 the National Democratic Alliance presented the President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, with a memorandum for his removal signed by over 200 MPs. The memorandum questioned his impartiality in light of alleged links with the Indian National Congress. After examination by the Congress government, no action was taken.^[34]

In May 2006 Jaswant Singh, opposition leader in Rajya Sabha, appealed to the Supreme Court of India for Chawla's removal as election commissioner because of his lifelong association with Congress politicians and the MPLADS controversy.^[35] The chief election commissioner (CEC) filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court that he had the power to remove an election commissioner (EC). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) then withdrew its petition. The Supreme Court ruled, “We are allowing withdrawal of the petitions while keeping open all questions [raised in the petitions]. They can make representation to the CEC, who will decide such representation in accordance with law. We are not expressing any opinion on merits”.^[36]

On 31 January 2009, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami sent his recommendation about Chawla's removal as election commissioner to the President of India.^[37] The CEC alleged that Chawla had discharged his duties as election commissioner in a partisan manner, seeking to further the interests of "one party". The CEC report contended that Chawla took breaks during important meetings, leaking confidential information about the election commission to Congress Party officials.^[38] He is also reported to have opposed the election commission's notice to Sonia Gandhi for accepting honours from Belgium.^[39]

The CEC recommendation against Chawla was controversial,^[40] and it was rejected by the government. He became CEC of India on 20 April 2009, and concluded the 2009 Indian Parliamentary Election.^[41]

Two BJP lawyers and office bearers petitioned a local Jaipur court for an FIR against Chawla and senior officials of the government of Rajasthan about the allotment of land to Chawla's trusts in Jaipur by the Jaipur Development Authority in 2000. The court declined to order the filing of an FIR; in an order dated 10 February 2009, it asked police to investigate the complaint (which was later dismissed by the court).^[42][43]

Awards

• 2005 Mazzini Award from the government of Italy "in recognition of his efforts to forge a new relationship with Italy and strengthening existing bonds""Italy honours Navin Chawla". The Hindu. 18 March 2005. 
• 2004 award from the New Delhi Institution of Directors

Bibliography

• 1988: “The Vocational Rehabilitation and Social Re-integration of the Leprosy Affected in India” (report released at the India International Centre in New Delhi by Mother Teresa on 18 October 1988)
• 1992: authorised biography, Mother Teresa;^[20] translated into 14 languages in India and abroad
• 1996: Faith and Compassion – The Life and Work of Mother Teresa (with photographer Raghu Rai); Element Books (UK and US), translated into Dutch and Spanish

Further reading

• "Overcoming the stigma of leprosy". The Hindu. 30 January 2008. 
• "The miracle of faith". The Hindu. 25 August 2007. 
• "Touch the Poor...". India Today. 15 September 1997. 
• "The Path to Sainthood". The Hindu. 4 October 2003. 
• "In the shadow of a saint". Indian Express. 5 September 2007. 
• S Gurumurthy (1 February 2009). "Chawla's appointment was wrong". New Indian Express. 
• "Poll panel's credibility: It's vital for free and fair elections". The Tribune. 19 February 2008. 
• "Mission Possible". India Today. 21 April 2008. 
• "Unlit Lamps in Attics". Outlook. 28 April 2008. 
• "Mother Teresa and the joy of giving". The Hindu. 26 August 2008. 
• "The mystery of Mother Teresa". The Hindu. 26 August 2009. 

References

External links

• Lectures
• Conferences
• "Navin Chawla to be I&B secretary" – article in The Hindu dated 29 May 2004
• "Italy honours Navin Chawla" – article in The Hindu dated 17 March 2005
• "Navin Chawla, new poll commissioner" – article in The Hindu dated 15 May 2005
• "BJP asks Navin Chawla to step down" – article in the Hindu dated 7 February 2006
• "NDA team seeks Chawla's removal" – article in the Hindu dated 17 March 2006
• "Don't damage EC credibility" – article in the Asian Age 14 March 2008
• "Chief Election Commissioner Gopalaswami 'recommends' removal of Navin Chawla"-article in the Hindu dated 31 January 2009
• "Parties term CEC's action unfortunate" -article in the Hindu dated 1 February 2009
• "CEC's action damages institution: Nariman" -article in the Hindu dated 1 February 2009
• "Shocking constitutional overreach"-article in the Hindu dated 1 February 2009
• "Gopalaswami's claims on timing of missive are seriously misleading"-article in the Hindu dated 3 February 2009
• "How Chief Election Commissioner pursued BJP allegations"-article in the Hindu dated 3 February 2009
• "Chief Election Commissioner cannot act on his own: Ashok Desai opinion" -article in the Hindu dated 3 February 2009
• "Chief Election Commissioner: equal or superior?” -article in the Hindu dated 9 February 2009
• "Election Commission examines code violations in Tamil Nadu" -article in the Hindu dated 6 May 2009
• "Cong accuses EC of bias, says complaints ignored" – article in Hindustan Times dated 8 May 2009
• "EC did great job; can it be better? "- article in Deccan Chronicle dated 14 May 2009
• "A job well done" -article in the Hindu dated 15 May 2009