Old photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Feb 16,
The Himachal Pradesh Government has reintroduced the Shimla Mayor tenure extension Bill in the Assembly. This legislative move aims to address the duration of the Mayor’s term in Shimla. Additionally, a hearing regarding this matter is scheduled to take place in the High Court on February 24. The outcome may have significant implications for local governance in the region.
This action by the Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu government brought in spotlight political and constitutional deliberations over the tenure of the Shimla Municipal Corporation’s top leadership. The matter resurfaced sharply on Monday as the Himachal Pradesh Government reintroduced an amendment to the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act during the budget session of the Assembly.
The move comes after an earlier ordinance aimed at extending the tenure of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor failed to secure the Governor’s assent and consequently lapsed.
At the centre of the controversy is the proposed extension of the tenure of Mayor Surinder Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal from two-and-a-half years to five years. The State Cabinet had earlier cleared an ordinance to effect this change, which was subsequently replaced with an amendment Bill. However, in the absence of gubernatorial assent, the legislative exercise remained incomplete.
With the ordinance now lapsed, the government has sought to push the amendment again through the Assembly, signalling its intent to secure statutory backing through a fresh legislative process.
Budget session begins amid political undercurrents
The development coincided with the commencement of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly’s Budget Session. While fiscal concerns — including the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) — are expected to dominate proceedings, the Shimla Mayor tenure issue has emerged as a politically sensitive flashpoint.
The reintroduction of the Bill is likely to trigger heated debate both inside and outside the House, particularly given the legal challenge pending before the judiciary.
The matter is currently sub judice before the Himachal Pradesh High Court. A Public Interest Litigation filed by Anjali Soni Verma, along with BJP councillors Asha Sharma and Kamlesh Kumari, challenges the extension as unconstitutional. The petition argues that the original tenure of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor has already concluded and that fresh elections ought to be notified.
The case is listed for hearing on February 24.
Legal questions
Petitioners’ counsel Sudhir Thakur has contended that once an ordinance expires, the executive cannot simply reenact its provisions to bypass judicial scrutiny. Referring to a Supreme Court judgment in a comparable case, argued that continuation of incumbents without fresh elections and without placing a status report before the High Court violates constitutional norms governing local self-government.
Also read: Congress faces growing disquiet over five-year Mayor move in Shimla MC
On the political front, BJP councillor Asha Sharma confirmed that representations have been submitted to the State Election Commission, urging it to initiate the election process for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, citing the lapse of the ordinance.
Political ripples within the corporation
The controversy has also exposed undercurrents within the ruling Congress camp inside the municipal body, where dissent had earlier surfaced over the proposed tenure extension. The renewed push now places the government in a delicate position — balancing internal political management, constitutional compliance and judicial oversight.
With the Assembly set to deliberate on the amendment and the High Court hearing imminent, the issue has evolved into an institutional test for the state government — one that blends legislative authority, executive intent and constitutional accountability. The outcome could influence not only the functioning of urban local bodies across Himachal Pradesh but also set a precedent on how tenure-related disputes are addressed when legislative action intersects with pending judicial review.
About the Author
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.
