Sat Pal Khattar

Sat Pal Khattar is an Indian born Singaporean based lawyer, businessman and community leader, known for his services to the Indian community in Singapore. The Government of India honored Khattar in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri, reported to be the first Singaporean to receive the Padma award. then the British India. His father had been running a small sports goods business in Singapore This was followed by a shift in job to the Inland Revenue Office as a Legal Officer and, by the time he moved out of IRO, he was a Grade F Senior Legal Officer. During this period, he continued his studies at Singapore University and obtained a master's degree in 1970.

Business career After resigning from Inland Revenue service in 1974, Khattar started a small law firm, Sat Pal Khattar Company. which, over the years, has grown to become one of the largest law firms in Singapore, employing over 150 lawyers. and is accredited by the International Tax Review.

Sat Pal Khattar retired from law practice in 2000 and established Khattar Holding, a private investment firm. he has made several investments in many businesses. He is a former chairman of Network India and the chairman of First Capital Corporation Ltd

Social career Sat Pal Khattar has served on the President's panel for minority rights for more than two decades. and is reported to have participated in the deliberations that led towards the free trade agreement signed between the two countries in 2003.

Khattar has served many civic bodies in Singapore in various capacities. He was the chairman of Singapore Business Federation, the board of governors of Raffles Institution and the Professional Indemnity Insurance Sub-Committee of the Law Society. He was also the director of Singapore Labour Foundation, the president of the Hindu Advisory Board and has served as a member of the Public Service Commission and the Securities Industry Council.

Khattar is a life trustee of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), a non governmental organization, working for the development of the financially poor members of the Indian community. He is also the vice president of the Singapore Indian Education Trust and a board member of the Institute of South Asian Studies. He is also involved with the International Management Action Award (IMAA) Council as its chairman and the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the role of an advisor.

Awards and recognitions Sat Pal Khattar is a recipient of the May Day Award on a number of occasions. In 1979, he received the NTUC Distinguished Service Award, followed by the Meritorious Service Award in 1987, the Distinguished Service Award in 1994, and the Distinguished Service (Star) Award in 2001 from the National Trades Union Congress. During his tenure with Inland Revenue Department, he received the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1972. He has also received the Overseas Indian Award from Priyadarshini Academy. The Government of India, in 2011, honored Khattar with the civilian award of Padma Shri, making him the first resident from Singapore to be honored by the Indian Government.