State to hand over 14 HPTDC units for operation: a day before HC hearing on financial illness of board
Shimla, July 8,
Two day ahead of the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s scheduled hearing on a civil writ petition highlighting the financial illness of the Board of Directors of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), the state government has decided to hand over the operation and maintenance of 14 hospitality units to private operators.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the Corporation’s inability to meet its financial obligations, particularly towards its retired employees. The petition, which is listed before the single bench of Justice Sandeep Sharma tomorrow, reportedly seeks redressal for delayed or unpaid retirement dues and exposes the deteriorating fiscal health of HPTDC.
This decision by the government is being seen as a pre-emptive measure ahead of the court proceedings, as it attempts to ease the burden on HPTDC by outsourcing operations of selected hotels and tourism units. These units will now be run and maintained by private entities, although ownership will remain with the state.
It is worthwhile to recall that earlier, the High Court had taken cognisance of a similar petition and directed the government to consider leasing out several HPTDC units to ensure timely disbursal of dues to employees and pensioners. The court, in its previous observations, had expressed displeasure over the mismanagement of resources and failure of the Corporation to sustain its workforce financially.
High court had also sought a detailed affidavit of Government defaulters and private parties who didn’t not paid their dues after booking State hostilities unit. Chief secretary’s Holi party at HHH is one of the event where payment was not allegedly made by the parties.
The Board of Directors’ decision, which came late Monday evening, is expected to be mentioned during Tuesday’s hearing as a step towards restructuring and stabilizing the corporation’s finances. However, employee unions and former staffers have raised concerns over the gradual privatization of HPTDC and the lack of transparency in the handover process.
As the High Court prepares to hear the matter, the latest decision is likely to be scrutinized for both its legal standing and practical implications. The outcome of the hearing may set a precedent for future restructuring of state-run undertakings facing financial distress.
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.
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