Shekhar Sinha

Shekhar Sinha
Vice Admiral; Shekhar Sinha; PVSM, AVSM, NM**, ADC
Born	10 August 1954; Baluatoli, Purnia, Bihar
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Navy
Years of service	1974 - 2014
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Western Naval Command; Western Fleet; INS Hansa; INS Saryu; INS Shakti; INS Delhi;
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal; Ati Vishisht Seva Medal; Nao Sena Medal & Bar

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

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.[1]

Flag Rank

Ashore as a Flag Officer, he served as 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]

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retirement" of Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, who had put in his papers after Admiral Robin K. Dhowan, six months junior, superseded him to become the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff.[2] The Ministry of Defence's junking of the seniority principle has sparked some concern in military circles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.

Decorations and medals

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Nausena Medal	Paschimi Star
Special Service Medal	Sangram Medal	Operation Vijay Medal	Operation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal	Videsh Seva Medal	50th Independence Anniversary Medal	25th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal		9 Years Long Service Medal

References

"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.
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 Devendra Kumar Joshi	FOC-in-C Western Naval Command 2012-2014	Succeeded by Anil Chopra
Preceded by Devendra Kumar Joshi	Chief Of Integrated Defence Staff 2011-2011	Succeeded by S P S Cheema
Preceded by Anup Singh	Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet 14 March 2007 - 24 January 2008	Succeeded by Anil Chopra

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[PIB2012-1] "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.

[TimesRet-2] Pandit, Rajat (21 April 2014). "Govt approves voluntary retirement of superseded Vice Admiral in Navy". Times of India. Retrieved 26 February 2016.