Even after five months, the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) continues to operate without a chairperson, as the state government has failed to notify the appointment of its chief and members—despite the selection process having been completed.
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Concerned by the persistent delay, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has intervened, directing the state to explain the inaction. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma on May 9 asked the government to file an affidavit by May 15, specifying the exact reasons for withholding the selection committee’s recommendations.
“In view of larger public interest, if the appointment has not been notified, an affidavit must be filed explaining why and on what grounds the state has chosen to withhold the committee’s recommendations,” the court observed.
The directive was issued during the hearing of a petition filed by Mr. Atul Sharma, which challenges the extension granted to Mr. Prabodh Saxena (1990-batch IAS officer), the incumbent Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh. The petition alleges that the extension violates Central Services Rules and DoPT guidelines, and that vigilance clearance was wrongly granted despite a chargesheet filed against Saxena under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Mr. Saxena was reportedly among the contenders for the post of RERA Chairperson, which has remained vacant since December 2024, following the retirement of Dr. Shrikant Baldi (1985-batch Retired IAS officer). According to sources, the selection committee, headed by the Chief Justice of the HP High Court and including the Secretaries of Urban Development and Law, had raised objections to Mr. Saxena’s candidature due to the ongoing corruption case.
The petition further emphasized that both the posts—Chief Secretary and RERA Chairperson—are highly sensitive in nature and require strict scrutiny under DoPT norms, especially when allegations of misconduct are involved.
With the High Court now stepping in, pressure is mounting on the state government to break its silence and act transparently in finalizing appointments critical to governance and regulatory oversight.
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