Lt. Gen. S. P. Datta started as a Medical Officer in Indian Army in 1962. At the time of his retirement in 2000, he was the Commandant (Head) of Army Medical Corps (AMC) Centre & School, Lucknow in the rank of Lieutenant General. He was awarded Ati Vishisht Seba Medal (AVSM) - Distinguished Service of Exceptional Order - by the President of India in 2000.
As the Commandant of AMC Centre & School, Lucknow, he contributed significantly towards planning, organizing, monitoring, technical training for para-medical personnel, formulation of training policies, training of officers in combat medical support, hospital administration and management. Prior to that, he was Deputy Director Medical Service (DDMS), Eastern Command, where he was in charge of planning, organizing & providing medical care in whole of eastern command comprising West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalya, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
During his career, he has also worked as the head of various army hospitals where he was in charge of general administration, public relations, hospital administration and overall coordination of the hospital functions. He also served as the Director of Medical Service, Army Head Quarters, New Delhi, where he was involved in planning and organization of army medical establishments, hospital planning, staffing and manpower planning, and planning medical cover during combat operations.
Lt. Gen. Datta is actively involved in non-profit charitable work. He is the Chairman of Deshbandhu Sangha, Dhanyaghata, West Bengal, a charitable organization in district North 24 Parganas, engaged in rural development and socioeconomic upliftment programmes in villages. He also serves as the Vice President, of Gramin Seba Sangha, Narayanpara, West Bengal, a charitable organization in district North 24 Parganas, engaged in providing free primary and secondary level education to rural poor.
