Himachal Govt. appoints R.D. Dhiman as RERA Chief, day before High Court date

Shimla, June 24,

A day ahead of a crucial High Court hearing on the matter, the Himachal Pradesh government has notified the appointment of retired IAS officers R.D. Dhiman and Amit Kashyap as Chairperson and Member, respectively, of the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HP RERA). The appointments were made under Section 20 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, following recommendations of the Selection Committee. The notification states that the tenure of both appointees will be five years or until they attain the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, from the date they assume office.

R.D. Dhiman is a former Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, known for his long administrative career that included key roles in the Finance, Personnel, and Public Works Departments. He resides in Kasumpti, Shimla. Amit Kashyap, also a retired IAS officer, served in various significant positions including Deputy Commissioner of Shimla, Managing Director of the State Civil Supplies Corporation, and Secretary in the Urban Development Department. He resides in Prospect Village, Chakkar, Shimla. The government has clarified that service conditions including salaries and allowances for both positions will be notified separately.

This long-pending action comes after stern observations made by the Himachal Pradesh High Court in a recent hearing, during which the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma imposed a penalty of ₹5 lakh on the state government for failing to make the appointments despite the availability of recommendations from the Selection Committee. The court had expressed serious displeasure over the prolonged delay, terming it a “deliberate attempt” to stall the functioning of a statutory body, and directed that the penalty be paid to the High Court Bar Association by June 25, 2025.

The matter, which began with a PIL filed by Atul Sharma, also involves the controversial extension of Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, granted by the state government on March 28, despite a pending CBI chargesheet in the INX Media case. The court had raised concerns about the extension being made without a vigilance clearance, calling it a violation of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) rules and constitutional propriety. During the previous hearing, the court dismissed the government’s explanations, including shifting the RERA headquarters to Dharamshala, as attempts to play “hide and seek” and warned of further intervention if appointments were not notified by the next date.

The High Court is scheduled to hear the matter again on June 25, where it will assess compliance regarding the appointment of HP RERA officials and the payment of the penalty. The government’s last-minute notification, issued late on June 24, appears to be an attempt to avoid further judicial wrath. However, with multiple related issues including Saxena’s extension still under scrutiny, the court’s response tomorrow remains critical to the larger question of administrative accountability in the state.

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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.

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Himachalscape bureau

The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.