Shekhar Sinha

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Shekhar Sinha

Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha taken over as the Chief of integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).jpg
Born (1954-08-10) 10 August 1954 (age 69)
Baluatoli, Purnia, Bihar
AllegianceFlag of India.svg  India
Service/branchNaval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy
Years of service1974 - 2014
Rank 13-Indian Navy-VADM.svg Vice Admiral
Commands held
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg Nao Sena Medal & Bar

Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, PVSM, AVSM, NM & Bar, ADC is a former Three star Admiral of the Indian Navy.

Contents

Military career

Sinha joined the Navy in 1974 in the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy. He was a Naval aviator. A Fighter pilot, he flew the Sea Harrier.

He commanded two Sea Harrier Squadrons as well as Air Station Hansa. Adm Sinha has commanded the first Saryu-class patrol vessel INS Saryu, the Deepak-class fleet tanker INS Shakti and the guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi. He was appointed as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. His tenure was significant in which he was responsible for planning and execution, deployment of Western Fleet ships and submarines in Operations Parakram short of war post Parliament attack by Pakistan based terrorists. In this operations Karachi harbour was virtually blocked and entire Makran coast was under constant surveillance for action. [1]

Flag Rank

Ashore as a Flag Officer, he served as Flag Officer Goa Naval Area & Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) as well as Controller Personnel Services. As a Rear Admiral, Sinha served as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet from 2007 to 2008. In a short stint in 2011, he served as the 6th Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. [1] In 2012, Vice Adm Sinha was appointed Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. [1]

During his distinguished career, he has been conferred upon Param Vishisht Seva Medal(PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal(AVSM), Nao Sena Medal and Bar (NM&Bar) both Gallantry. He earned his second gallantry award during Op Pawan in Command of CGShip Rani Jindan for operations against terrorist organisations active in Palk Bay and surrounding seas.

Supersession & Retirement

In 2014, the Government accepted the "voluntary retirement" of Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, who had put in his papers after Admiral Robin K. Dhowan, six months junior, superseded him to become the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff. [2] The Ministry of Defence's junking of the seniority principle has sparked some concern in military circles because successive governments have almost always stuck to it in appointing service chiefs. The chain of seniority in Indian military is considered virtually sacrosanct, with supersession being exceptionally rare.

The incumbent Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral D K Joshi, resigned after a series of accidents involving ships of the Indian Navy. Adm Sinha was passed over as the Ministry of Defence felt that some of the blame for the mishaps should be attributed to him. After being passed over, Adm Sinha requested voluntary retirement.[ citation needed ]

Decorations and medals

Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg
IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg IND Operation Vijay medal.svg IND Operation Parakram medal.svg
IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg
IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Nausena Medal & bar Paschimi Star
Special Service MedalSangram MedalOperation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal50th Independence Anniversary Medal25th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha PVSM AVSM NM& BAR, ADC Appointed as Commander in Chief Western Naval Command to Take Over from Vice Admiral DK Joshi". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  2. Pandit, Rajat (21 April 2014). "Govt approves voluntary retirement of superseded Vice Admiral in Navy". Times of India. Retrieved 26 February 2016.


Military offices
Preceded by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command
2012-2014
Succeeded by
Chief Of Integrated Defence Staff
2011-2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Anup Singh
Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet
14 March 2007 - 24 January 2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by
S. K. Damle
Flag Officer Goa Area & Flag Officer Naval Aviation
2004 - 2006
Succeeded by
S. M. Vadgaokar