No High Court judge-monitored probe into Chester Hills project: Himachal government
Source Entity
Saurabh Parashar
The Himachal Pradesh government has rejected calls for a High Court-monitored probe into the Chester Hills project, citing ongoing legal proceedings. Meanwhile, CM Sukhu disclosed that over Rs 21 crore was spent on foreign official visits between 2023 and 2025.
Government Response to Chester Hills Allegations
The Himachal Pradesh government has officially declined requests for a judicial inquiry led by a sitting High Court judge into the controversial Chester Hills project in Solan district. Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, addressing the Assembly, clarified that such a probe is unnecessary because legal proceedings concerning violations of Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, are already in progress. This legislative framework is critical in Himachal Pradesh as it restricts land ownership by non-agriculturists, and its enforcement is a cornerstone of the state's land governance.
Context of the Chester Hills Controversy
The scrutiny surrounding the Chester Hills project, specifically the 'Chester Hill-2' and 'Chester Hill-4' residential colonies, follows allegations regarding benami transactions and unauthorized land acquisition. BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma raised the issue, demanding transparency regarding permissions granted under Section 118. The government’s decision to rely on existing administrative and legal channels rather than a judicial commission suggests a preference for departmental oversight, though this stance faces significant political pressure from the opposition.
Fiscal Transparency and Foreign Tours
In a separate development, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu provided a detailed account of the state’s fiscal expenditure on foreign travel. Between January 2023 and July 2025, the government incurred an expenditure of approximately Rs 21.38 crore on international visits. These trips involved a broad spectrum of personnel, including ministers, MLAs, government officials, and academic representatives, aimed at participating in various government programs and development-oriented schemes.
Funding and Development Implications
The Chief Minister emphasized that the financial burden of these foreign visits was not borne entirely by the state exchequer. A significant portion of the costs was either fully or partially subsidized by the central government and international development partners, such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Institutional Development Plan (IDP) under the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP). These partnerships are intended to foster capacity building and bring global best practices to the state’s agricultural and infrastructural sectors.
Political Accountability and Future Outlook
The dual focus on land reform compliance and fiscal transparency reflects a broader trend of increased legislative accountability in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly. As the government navigates the legal complexities of the Chester Hills case, the transparency regarding foreign expenditures serves to balance public discourse. Moving forward, the effectiveness of the ongoing Section 118 violation probes will likely remain a key indicator of the administration's commitment to land regulatory standards and political accountability.