Former Head and Senior Professor, Department of Psychiatry,  Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India,  born on 12th August, 1954 at Srinagar (J & K) received degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from Govt. Medical College, Jammu (J & K) in 1978 and Doctorate of Medicine (M.D.) in Psychiatry from PGIMER, Chandigarh in 1981.

President of Indian Psychiatric Society (2010) and is presently Chairperson of Indian Psychiatric Society Research, Education and Training Foundation (2011–2021). Convener of Task Force set up by the Indian Psychiatric Society on formulating Clinical Practice Guidelines (2003-09) and  Co-Chairperson of the IPS Task Force on Revision of Clinical Practice Guidelines  (2015- 18). These guidelines serve as standard practice guidelines for Psychiatrists in India.  President, Indian Association for Geriatric Mental Health (2017-19)

Member, Institute Body of JIPMER, Puducherry(2019-23); Chairman of Academic Committee of Govt. Medical College, Amritsar (2012-2018) ;  Member Task Force Group and Project Review Committee of the Indian Council of Medical Research and was Expert Consultant to Govt. of Punjab for the State Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar and Member of Project Formulation Committees for setting up State Institutes of Mental Health in the State of Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh.  Member of Faculty of Medical Sciences of Panjab University (2005-2009) and Member Faculty of Medicine, University of Jammu (2003-2009).

Expert Consultant to Govt. of Punjab for improving Drug De-addiction Services in the State of Punjab (2012-2017); Member Task Force on Health and Medical Education under Punjab Governance  Reforms Commission (2012-2017); Director  Board of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, Govt. of Punjab (2013 -17); Member  Board of Management, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences,  Punjab (2013-2023); was conferred Punjab State Award on Independence Day (2014).

After retirement from 32 years of service with PGIMER Chandigarh, presently engaged in clinical care as Consultant Psychiatrist with TTVC Charitable Trust and CMC Hospital, Chandigarh and Fortis Hospital, Mohali.