In a significant revelation, the Himachal Pradesh government has approved a total of 1,181 cases for the sale of land and property to outsiders under a crucial protective law over the last three years. This data came to light during the recent winter session of the state legislative assembly in Dharamshala.
District-Wise Breakdown of Approved Cases
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, responding to a query from BJP MLA Vipin Singh Parmar, provided a detailed district-wise breakdown. The approvals were granted under Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, a law designed to restrict land sales to non-agriculturists and non-Himachalis.
Of the total approvals, 709 cases were for residential construction, while 472 cases pertained to commercial or industrial purposes. Solan district led with a staggering 651 approved cases, followed by Shimla (235), Sirmaur (124), Kangra (88), Una (24), Mandi (21), Kullu (19), Chamba (10), Hamirpur (5), Bilaspur (3), and Kinnaur (1).
For commercial use specifically, Solan again topped the list with 276 approvals, ahead of Sirmaur (78), Shimla (65), and Kangra (27).
Revenue, Rejections, and Pending Cases
Minister Negi further informed the House that this process generated substantial revenue for the state exchequer. The government earned Rs 73.27 crore by granting these permissions between 2022 and 2024.
Not all applications were successful. The minister stated that 13 cases were rejected during this period for failing to meet the conditions outlined under Rule 38 of Section 118. Additionally, a significant number of applications remain in the pipeline, with 755 cases pending at various stages of processing.
The Proposed Amendment and Its Implications
Amidst this high volume of approvals, the state government has initiated a move to amend the very law that regulates these transactions. On December 2, 2025, the government introduced the 'Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2025' in the assembly.
Following a demand from BJP legislators, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania referred the bill to a Select Committee of the Vidhan Sabha for deeper examination. This committee, comprising members from both ruling and opposition parties, is expected to submit its report during the upcoming budget session.
The proposed amendments aim to introduce several key changes:
- Allowing non-agriculturists to purchase apartments built by private real estate developers in the state.
- Extending the existing exemption for flats bought from the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) to subsequent purchasers.
- Exempting short-term building leases of up to 10 years in rural areas from Section 118 to promote business activity.
- Permitting cooperative societies to buy land and conduct business in Himachal.
Enforced in 1974, the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act has been a cornerstone policy aimed at protecting the rights of local agriculturists and preserving the state's land ownership patterns. The proposed amendments mark a potential shift in this decades-old protective regime, aiming to balance regulation with economic development and real estate growth.
