B. D. Pande

Bhairab Dutt Pandey (born 17 March 1917; died 4 April 2009) was a member of the Indian Civil Service and Union Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India under Indira Gandhi. He served as the Governor of West Bengal (1981–1983), and Punjab (1983–1984), and the Administrator of Chandigarh for a brief period.

Born in Almora, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, Pandey served as a Cabinet Secretary to the Union Government from 2 November 1972 to 31 March 1977. When President’s rule was imposed on Punjab, he served as the Governor of the state.

Pandey was married to Vimla Pande. They had three children: Arvind Pandey, environmentalist Lalit Pandey, and Ratna Pandey. His brother-in-law, Vinod Chandra Pandey, was also a former Governor and Union Cabinet Secretary.

He was one of the last living members of the Imperial Civil Service, having entered in the 1939 batch.

The Government of India awarded Pandey the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 1972, for his contributions to Indian society and the Padma Vibhushan in 2000.

Bhairab Dutt Pandey
Bhairab Dutt Pandey Official portrait 1983.jpg
10th Governor of West Bengal
In office
12 September 1981 – 10 October 1983
Chief Minister Jyoti Basu
Preceded by Tribhuvan Narain Singh
Succeeded by Anant Sharma
12th Cabinet Secretary of India
In office
2 November 1972 – 31 March 1977
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
Preceded by T. Swaminathan
Succeeded by N. K. Mukarji
Personal details
Born 17 March 1917
Almora district, Uttarakhand, British India
Died 4 April 2009 (aged 92)
Almora
Spouse(s) Vimla
Children 3
Occupation Indian Civil Service
Known for Civil Service
Awards Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri