1 week ago
Himachal Rejects High Court-Monitored Probe Into Chester Hills
The Himachal Pradesh government says it will not ask a sitting High Court judge to supervise an investigation into the Chester Hills housing project.
It says the District Collector in Solan is already legally handling the case.
The complaints claim that land rules may have been broken and that benami transactions may have taken place.
These complaints concern two parts of the project called Chester Hills-2 and Chester Hills-4.
Together, they contain 228 flats.
The land law, called Section 118, limits how non-agriculturists can buy agricultural land in Himachal Pradesh.
Some opposition leaders and activists have criticized the earlier inquiry report.
The government says the existing legal process is enough to investigate the matter.
The Himachal Pradesh government ruled out a sitting High Court judge-monitored inquiry into the Chester Hills project.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said a Section 118 case is already being heard by the District Collector, Solan.
Complaints allege benami transactions and Section 118 violations involving the Chester Hills-2 and Chester Hills-4 projects.
The two projects, approved by Himachal Pradesh RERA in 2023, contain a combined 228 flats.
Government data showed six land registrations exceeding 20 kanals in specified Kangra areas, including two under Section 118.
- Who
- The Himachal Pradesh government, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma, and complainants including Rajiv Shandil and the Association of Allottees, Chester Hills, Solan.
- What
- The government rejected a request for a sitting High Court judge-monitored probe into alleged Section 118 violations and benami transactions linked to Chester Hills-2 and Chester Hills-4.
- Where
- The projects and proceedings are in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh; related land-registration data concerns areas of Kangra district.
- When
- The government gave its response on Saturday; complaints were filed on August 20, 2025, and the Section 118 case is currently under hearing.
- Why
- The government says the District Collector, Solan, is legally competent to investigate the complaints and that proceedings are already underway.
Government Position
Opposition and Critics
Need for a High Court-monitored probe
Government Position
The government says a sitting High Court judge-monitored inquiry is unnecessary because the District Collector, Solan, has authority to examine Section 118 complaints and proceedings are already underway.
Opposition and Critics
BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma sought details about the project's alleged irregularities and permissions, while opposition parties and activists criticized the handling of the inquiry.
Validity of the Solan inquiry
Government Position
The government said an inquiry was conducted through SDM Poonam Bansal and that a Section 118 case was filed before the District Collector based on her report.
Opposition and Critics
Former Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta described the Solan SDM's report as a prima facie violation of settled law and warned that action based on it could hurt agriculturists' interests.
Alleged land-law violations
Government Position
The government presented the matter as an ongoing legal proceeding concerning alleged violations of Section 118 and said the competent authority should take appropriate action.
Opposition and Critics
Complainants alleged that Hans Raj Thakur transferred land through a collusive arrangement and that non-agriculturist promoters continued to control marketing and receive proceeds from the projects.
Key facts
- Projects under scrutiny
- Chester Hills-2 and Chester Hills-4 in Solan district
- Total homes
- 228 flats: 163 in Chester Hills-2 and 65 in Chester Hills-4
- Applicable law
- Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972
- Current forum
- The District Collector's court in Solan
- Inquiry officer
- Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Civil), Solan, Poonam Bansal
- Complaints filed
- Rajiv Shandil and the Association of Allottees, Chester Hills, Solan, filed complaints on August 20, 2025
- Kangra registrations
- Six registrations exceeding 20 kanals were recorded in the specified areas; two were registered under Section 118
Quotes
Jagat Singh Negi
Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister who informed the state Assembly about the government’s response to the complaints
“Following the complaints, the government directed the Deputy Commissioner, Solan, Manmohan Sharma, to conduct an inquiry and take action in accordance with the rules. The inquiry was conducted through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Civil), Solan, Poonam Bansal. Based on the report submitted by the SDM, a case concerning violation of Section 118 has been filed before the District Collector, Solan, where the matter is currently under hearing.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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