Himachal Assembly in Turmoil Over Panchayat Reservation Notification
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly descended into chaos on Wednesday as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged vehement protests against a state government notification issued the previous night. The contentious directive empowers deputy commissioners to revise the reservation roster in up to 5% of panchayats ahead of the upcoming Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections scheduled for May.
Adjournment Motion Rejected, Triggering Walkout
The opposition moved an adjournment motion to discuss the matter, but Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania rejected it after hearing arguments from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, and BJP MLA Randhir Sharma. Pathania stated that the government's explanation carried merit and the decision was taken in the larger interest of PRIs.
This rejection prompted a walkout by BJP MLAs, who denounced the notification as unconstitutional and a violation of Article 243(D) of the Constitution, as well as state election commission norms. The opposition argued that delegating such powers to deputy commissioners requires legislative approval, not executive action.
Allegations of Political Maneuvering
BJP MLA Randhir Sharma alleged that the government's intent was to push the matter into the courts, thereby delaying the panchayat elections. Earlier in the day, the BJP had demanded an immediate discussion on the issue, but the speaker insisted it be taken up after the question hour, leading to protests and an adjournment of the assembly until 11:30 AM.
Defending the decision, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi accused the opposition of politicizing the matter. He emphasized that the provision is necessary to ensure fair representation in areas where demographic changes have occurred since the 2011 Census, which remains the basis for the upcoming polls.
Commitment to Timely Elections
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur stressed that panchayats are the foundation of democracy and elections should proceed without delay and without violating constitutional provisions. In response, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured the assembly that the government is committed to conducting PRI elections before May 31, as mandated by the Supreme Court. He clarified that the notification aims to ensure justice for scheduled castes and other backward classes in the absence of updated census data after 2011.
Other Key Developments in the Assembly
State Debt and Loan Details
The chief minister informed the house that the state government has raised loans totaling Rs 35,555 crore over three years, up to January 31, 2026. Himachal Pradesh's total debt has now reached Rs 1.01 lakh crore as of January 31. The state is expected to pay Rs 6,694 crore as interest in 2025-26, rising to Rs 7,272 crore in 2026-27.
Over the past three years, the government has repaid Rs 26,256 crore towards loans and interest. In 2025-26 alone, Rs 10,933 crore will be spent on debt servicing. After meeting loan and interest obligations over three years, the government was left with Rs 1.24 lakh crore for other expenditures and development needs.
Shimla Pedestrian Zone Protection Bill Passed
The legislative assembly passed The Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Amendment Bill, 2026, aimed at protecting pedestrian zones by significantly increasing private vehicle pass fees and penalties. After the governor's assent, annual pass fees for private vehicles on sealed roads will rise from Rs 2,500 to Rs 10,000 per annum, and for restricted roads from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.
Processing fees will also increase from Rs 100 to Rs 500. Temporary one-day passes will cost Rs 1,000 for sealed roads and Rs 500 for restricted roads. Violators will face penalties of Rs 10,000 on sealed roads and Rs 5,000 on restricted roads.
Additional Legislative Measures
- No Job Policy for Outsourced Staff: The chief minister stated that outsourced personnel are not government employees, and there is no plan to frame a policy on job security or long-term contracts for them. Approximately 13,000 such workers are engaged across departments. The state spends Rs 1,172 crore monthly on salaries of regular and contractual staff, and Rs 19 crore on outsourced workers, as per 2024-25 data. Pension payouts total Rs 10,536 crore per year. Outsourced workers must be paid by service provider agencies by the 7th of each month as per norms.
- No Pension for Disqualified MLAs: The chief minister introduced The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing that any MLA disqualified under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution will not be eligible for pension.
- Bill to Bar Criminals from Panchayats: Himachal Pradesh Minister Rajesh Dharmani introduced The Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to curb criminal entry into panchayati raj institutions. The bill proposes disqualifying individuals facing framed charges in drug-related cases from holding panchayat posts. It also tightens norms on land encroachment, financial irregularities, and conflict of interest.
- Lift Bill to Cover Escalators and Travelators: PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh introduced The Himachal Pradesh Lifts (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aiming to expand the law's scope for regulation of escalators and travelators to improve public safety. The bill is scheduled to be taken up for discussion and passed on Thursday.
