India, Feb. 1 -- Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin B Chawla breathed his last at a Delhi hospital on Saturday. He was 79.

Chawla was appointed election commissioner in May 2005 and was elevated as chief election commissioner (CEC) in April 2009. He demitted office in July 2010, a statement issued by the Election Commission of India said, describing him as "a brilliant officer" of the 1969-batch Indian Administrative Service.

"During his tenure as CEC, ECI successfully conducted the General Election to the Lok Sabha in 2009 and General Elections to Legislative Assemblies in seven states," the statement said.

He also led many reforms including enabling third gender voters to exercise a preference to vote in a new category of...