Himachal Pradesh High Court Demands Update on Dharamshala Campus Project

Court Hearing on Dharamshala Campus Development

S Gopal Puri
Kangra

On June 2, 2026, the issue regarding the Dharamshala campus of the Central University was brought before the Chief Justice Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in case CWPIL No. 20 of 2025, Atul Bhardwaj vs. State of Himachal Pradesh & Others.

During the hearing, Nitya Sharma, representing the petitioner, pointed out that the State of Himachal Pradesh and the Department of Higher Education acknowledged in their response that the transfer process for the Dharamshala campus is ongoing. They also mentioned that the necessary funds, approximately ₹30 crore, are still being considered. The affidavit indicated that discussions with the Finance and Planning Departments regarding fund allocation are underway, but no further actions have been taken.

Sharma contended that the respondents' affidavit was vague and merely shifted responsibility, offering future assurances without a clear timeline, accountability, current compliance status, expected completion date, or detailed progress of the project.

In light of this, it was requested that the Court instruct the State Government to submit a comprehensive status report detailing the current state of the Dharamshala campus project, the reasons for the delay in the ₹30 crore deposit, and the actions taken by the government following the Stage-I approval.

After reviewing the arguments, the Chief Justice Bench ordered the State Government to provide an affidavit status report, clarifying the reasons for the funding delay and outlining the project's current status. The respondents were given a specific timeframe to present this report before the next hearing, with a warning of potential costs for non-compliance.

The Chief Justice also noted that the State Government's response was dated October 2025, and it appeared that no significant progress had been made since then. The Court emphasized the need for an updated status report to accurately reflect the current situation.