Himachal High Court Demands Update on Delayed Development of Central University Campus

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has called for a detailed report from the state government concerning the significant delays in the development of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh in Dharamshala. This request arises from a public interest petition highlighting the failure to deposit approximately ₹30 crore necessary for the project's advancement. The court has instructed the government to clarify the reasons behind the financial delays and to provide a timeline for completing the required formalities. The petitioner's lawyer emphasized the lack of concrete actions taken despite multiple opportunities for project approval. The court's decision aims to ensure accountability and progress in the university's development.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 4, 2026, 16:17 IST

Court Seeks Detailed Report on University Project Delays

The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has requested a comprehensive status report from the state government regarding the prolonged delays in the development of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) in Dharamshala. This directive was issued during the hearing of a public interest petition concerning the construction delays at the university's northern campus, particularly related to the non-deposit of approximately ₹30 crore required for the project.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chandra Negi instructed the state government and the higher education department to document the current status of the project through an affidavit, detailing the reasons for the ongoing delays in fulfilling the financial obligations necessary for its implementation.

Concerns Raised Over Financial Delays

During the proceedings, the petitioner's lawyer, Advocate Nitya Sharma, drew the court's attention to the responses submitted by the state government and the higher education department. Sharma pointed out that the respondents have acknowledged that the transfer process related to the Dharamshala campus is still ongoing, and the required ₹30 crore has yet to be deposited to comply with legal and project-related requirements.

According to the affidavit presented by the respondents, the matter has been forwarded to the finance and planning departments for fund allocation. However, the petitioner contends that despite the passage of considerable time, no concrete actions have been taken to release and deposit the necessary funds to advance the project.

Lack of Clarity on Project Progress

Sharma argued before the court that the affidavit filed by the respondents contains only general claims and reflects a transfer of responsibility among various departments. She emphasized that the state government has failed to clarify why the required funds have not been deposited, despite multiple opportunities for the project to receive initial phase approval and complete necessary formalities.

The petitioner further asserted that the responses provided by the officials lack a definitive timeline for fulfilling pending requirements and do not detail the specific steps taken after obtaining forest clearance necessary for establishing the campus.

Court Orders Further Action

Sharma requested the court to direct the state government to submit a detailed status report outlining the precise reasons for the non-deposit of the ₹30 crore, the progress made in obtaining financial approvals, and a comprehensive account of the actions taken following the initial phase approval of the project. In light of these arguments, the High Court instructed the respondents to present a new affidavit that clearly outlines the current status of the Dharamshala campus project, the reasons for the delay in depositing the required funds, and a timeline for completing the pending formalities.