Himachal Pradesh High Court Stays Shifting Of Backward Classes Commission Office From Shimla To Dharamshala
Mehak Aggarwal
14 Jan 2026 8:00 PM IST
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed the State Government's decision to shift the office of the H.P. State Commission for Backward Classes from Shimla to Dharamshala, holding that the decision required closer examination in light of administrative and financial implications.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawlia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj while hearing a public interest litigation, passed an interim order.
The Court noted that the Chairman of the Commission was appointed only on 03.12.2025 and that other members were appointed on 23.12.2025. Thereafter, The proposal came on 24.12.2025 to shift the office from Shimla to Dharamshala (District Kangra) and to maintain the present office as the Camp Office of the Commission by the Chairman.
Relying on its earlier order in another public interest litigation, the court reiterated that “shifting offices with a minuscule number of employees would defeat the very purpose of decongestion”.
The petitioner contended that the Commission had only 11 filled posts, out of which 6 were Class-IV employees. He further contrended that the office accommodation is on lease, for 99 years, and the Commission's office did not incur recurring rental expenditure.
On the other hand, no decision has been taken as to what accommodation has been made available at Dharamshala.
Case Name: Ram Lal Sharma v/s State of H.P. and others
Case No.: CWPIL No.9 of 2026
Date of Decision: 09.01.2026
For the Petitioner: Mr.Ankush Dass Sood, Senior Advocates with Mr.Ajay Sipahiya and Mr. Tarun Mehta, Advocates, for the petitioner.
For the Respondent: Ms. Priyanka Chauhan, Deputy Advocate General, for the respondents No.1 to 3-State.
Mr.Harish Dod, Advocate, for respondent Nos. 4 and 5.