Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi revealed that he turned down an offer to work as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office due to discomfort with what he perceived as a communal approach to the posting. Quraishi expressed a preference to be recognized for his professional merit rather than his religious identity. He shared this decision in his book, ‘India and I: A Hundred Memories, Not a Memoir’.
Quraishi, who was serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Affairs at the time, explained that he was content with his current responsibilities, overseeing youth clubs and the National Service Scheme across the country. He found his field job uniquely fulfilling, combining Secretariat duties with broader national engagement.
The former CEC was surprised to learn about the PMO offer unofficially, with security clearance reportedly completed before official communication. Despite the prestige associated with the PMO role, Quraishi valued his current position’s active engagement over a potentially more anonymous role in the Prime Minister’s Office. He expressed a reluctance to be viewed primarily through a religious lens.
Quraishi also voiced concerns about potential biases against Muslim officers in certain ministries, including the PMO, Home Ministry, and Defence Ministry. He emphasized the importance of being valued for professional competence rather than being subjected to additional scrutiny based on religious identity. Quraishi’s stand against being appointed on religious grounds was supported by his former supervisor in the PMO, K.R. Venugopal.
