Former Dy Mayor seeks court-monitored probe into Chester hills projects
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Shimla, June 18
Former Shimla Deputy Mayor and urban development expert Tikender Singh Panwar has approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court seeking a court-monitored investigation or an inquiry under judicial supervision into the controversial Chester Hills housing projects in Solan district.
In a Public Interest Litigation (CWPIL No. 60 of 2026), Panwar has questioned how two large housing projects were permitted and subsequently registered under the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) despite allegations that the developers were not bona fide Himachali agriculturists and had allegedly not obtained the mandatory permissions under Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972.
The petitioner has contended that since allegations in the matter involve senior bureaucrats, including former Chief Secretaries, an investigation by state agencies such as the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau may not inspire public confidence. He has therefore sought an independent probe under judicial supervision.
Panwar has also challenged the exercise of powers by the then Chief Secretary while deciding objections relating to the project. The petition states that an order passed by the Chief Secretary allegedly overruled findings of field-level revenue authorities and departmental reports that had raised concerns regarding possible violations of Section 118.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi, while hearing the matter on June 16, issued notices and ordered that the petition be listed along with CWPIL No. 56 of 2026, which is already pending before the court. Both matters would now be taken up on July 20.
The earlier PIL, filed by High Court advocate Vinay Sharma, had alleged that inquiries conducted by revenue authorities found that while ownership of land formally remained with a Himachali agriculturist, substantive control of development and marketing of Chester Hills-2 and Chester Hills-4 was being exercised by non-agriculturist promoters associated with private real estate firms. The petition also referred to acquisition of around 275 bighas of land and sought scrutiny of the financial and ownership structure behind the projects.
According to the petition, statutory proceedings initiated on the basis of reports submitted by revenue authorities were allegedly curtailed through subsequent administrative orders. It has further been alleged that the prescribed mechanism under Section 118, under which inquiries are ordinarily conducted by the Collector and subject to appellate remedies, was bypassed.
The Chester Hills controversy has already triggered political debate, with CPI(M) and BJP leaders demanding a probe into the permissions granted to the projects. The state government recently withdrew an earlier order and directed the Deputy Commissioner, Solan, to proceed with examination of alleged violations under Section 118, indicating that the matter remains under official scrutiny.
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