NEW DELHI: Former defence secretary and ex-governor of Chhattisgarh, Shekhar Dutt, passed away on Wednesday. Dutt had also served as a deputy national security advisor (NSA).Recalling his contribution, the defence ministry on X said that “a decorated soldier and visionary administrator, his contributions to India’s defence and national security will be remembered with deep respect”. Dutt was a 1969-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.Dutt became a short service commission officer in the Indian Army and was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry while serving with the 218 Medium Regiment during the 1971 India-Pakistan War.