The Himachal Government is committed to bringing qualitative improvements in education and upgrading infrastructure to ensure equal opportunities for every child, said Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Tuesday.

Pathania was addressing the annual prize distribution ceremony at Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) Sinhuta in Bhattiyat subdivision.

He emphasised that efforts were underway to enhance educational facilities in the Bhattiyat constituency so that the region can stand out not only in development but also in the field of education.

The Speaker highlighted that during the past three years, several reforms have been introduced in the education sector.

Benefits of these reforms would be visible in the coming years. He said the state government has decided to introduce the CBSE curriculum in nearly 100 schools from the next financial year, including three in the Bhattiyat constituency, one of them being the GSSS, Singuta.

Pathania said the current government has set new benchmark of development in the Bhattiyat constituency. In over the last two-and-a-half years, construction of 35 rural roads has been completed, while work on another 35 roads has begun.

“Developmental projects worth Rs 220 crore have been initiated through the Public Works Department, while water supply projects worth over Rs 200 crore are underway under the Jal Shakti Department,” said Pathania.

Three die-hard cricket enthusiasts have accomplished what the past four state governments failed to do — construct a stadium in Shimla.

The trio has carved out a cricket ground from a hillside on the outskirts of Shimla in the Padechi gram panchayat, around 15 km from the city.

Several governments and departments, on the other hand, have made a mess of the proposed multipurpose stadium in Katasani village near Shimla. The foundation stone for the project was laid by late Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in 2007.

Eighteen years later, a haphazardly flattened hillock and an eight-storeyed incomplete and crumbling building stand at the site as a stark evidence of poor planning and even worse execution. Along with precious time, around Rs 25 crore has apparently gone down the drain on this project.

In sharp contrast, the three friends — Veenu Diwan, Ajay Thakur and Abhay Thakur — have constructed a functional cricket ground in just four years.

The trio thought of constructing a cricket ground in 2021, bought the land on a steep hillside, and constructed a huge ground measuring 120×90 metre in the middle of nowhere.

“A lot of effort went into carving out the ground from the steep slope. It involved extensive cutting on the hill side, and massive infilling on the valley side to get a level surface for the ground,” said Veenu.

The lack of a cricket ground inspired these three cricket lovers to build one on their own. “There’s no cricket ground in Shimla which could be accessed by cricket lovers. The existing grounds are either under the control of the Army, the police or some big schools. So, we decided to build this stadium,” said Veenu.

The trio plans to start a residential cricket academy for the budding cricketing talent of the region at the stadium. “We will shortly start building a hostel at the site,” said Veenu.

As for the Katasani stadium, the Sports Department is trying to salvage something out of the bungled-up project but the situation on the ground is deteriorating.

“The project is a tale of wasted land, money and other resources. The building is in ruins, wild grass is growing inside it. The locals are scared of going anywhere close to the building,” said Jagdish Kumar, pradhan, gram panchayat, Baicheri.

Incidentally, the Katasani project isn’t the only sports project that’s caught up in the political and bureaucratic muddle.

The plan to convert the iconic Shimla Ice Skating Rink into an all-weather facility is moving at a sluggish pace. Incidentally, in an initiative similar to the one taken by the three youths, residents of Cheog village, about 40 km from Shimla, constructed a natural ice skating rink within 15 days last year.

Perhaps, government departments can take a cue from these praiseworthy efforts!

The state government has formally notified the establishment of the Tourism Investment Promotion Council, a high-level body aimed at accelerating approvals for tourism projects exceeding Rs 50 crore.

The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department issued the notification, marking a significant push toward streamlining procedures that have long frustrated investors.

The council has been created to ensure that large tourism ventures do not get entangled in bureaucratic delays, particularly those involving permissions under Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972.

Several investors in the past have either abandoned or indefinitely stalled their plans due to procedural hurdles and prolonged timelines, especially concerning land purchase in relaxation of Section 118. The new framework seeks to break that pattern.

Under the revised system, definitive timelines have been laid down for almost every department involved in the approval chain.

All applications requiring Section 118 permission must now be submitted through the Revenue Department’s online portal. The Revenue Department is mandated to issue approval within 14 working days from the date of application.

If any shortcomings are detected, the department must inform the applicant within five working days, ensuring that no investor is left guessing about the status or required corrections.

The council will convene at least once every month to ensure that essential sanctions move forward without delay. Apart from expediting approvals, the body has also been tasked with promoting transparency, accountability and aligning financial decisions with the broader vision of sustainable tourism development in the state.

The council will be chaired by the Chief Minister, while the Tourism Minister will serve as vice-chairman. Its membership includes the Chief Secretary and Secretaries of key departments such as Finance, Industries, Jal Shakti, Public Works, Revenue, Forest, Urban Development and Town and Country Planning.

For projects requiring non-statutory clearances, the concerned agency must issue approval within 14 working days after raising any comprehensive, one-time observations. For statutory clearances, the same 14-day timeframe applies. Where deficiencies are flagged, project proponents will have 10 days to address them.

Ultimately, the council seeks to create an enabling environment that not only showcases Himachal Pradesh’s tourism potential but also attracts investment that is sustainable, culturally sensitive and economically viable.

By enforcing strict timelines and unified oversight, the government aims to foster a more predictable and investor-friendly landscape for high-value tourism projects.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has exposed serious lapses in the construction, design approval and subsequent handling of the damaged Bhoothnath bridge in Kullu district, resulting in unfruitful and avoidable expenditure amounting to Rs 14.75 crore.

The findings are part of the CAG report for the period ending March 2022, which was tabled in the Vidhan Sabha by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also holds the finance portfolio.

The PSC (prestressed concrete) box-girder bridge, built over the Beas at a cost of Rs 10.60 crore, was opened to the public in October 2013.

Shockingly, within just five years, the structure developed severe damage and had to be closed in January 2019. The report notes that the project was initially sanctioned for Rs 5.51 crore in July 2007 and later brought under NABARD’s RIDF scheme in November 2009.

Following its inclusion, the government issued a revised approval of Rs 8.58 crore in December 2009. However, the final expenditure shot up to Rs 10.60 crore, based entirely on the contractor’s own design.

Of this, Rs 2.02 crore was spent in excess without obtaining fresh administrative sanction, an irregularity strongly criticised by the audit.

After the closure of the bridge in 2019, a magisterial inquiry led by the Additional District Magistrate recommended a detailed technical investigation by a committee of experts. Despite this, no such committee was constituted by the state government.

Rehabilitation and strengthening work was instead awarded in November 2019 to Freyssinet Menard India Pvt. Ltd. for ?2.69 crore, with a March 2021 completion deadline.

During its technical examination in February 2020, the agency uncovered major structural defects. A large PCC block had been placed at the expansion joint on the Kharal-end abutment, obstructing the thermal movement of the 22-metre suspended span. This blockage resulted in excessive horizontal pressure on the fixed bearings, causing cracks and pedestal damage.

The firm also reported a significant detailing flaw: reinforcement anchorage at the articulation joint had been provided at only 300 mm instead of the required 1 metre for 20 mm bars.

These findings, the CAG noted, point clearly to faulty design and substandard construction in the original project.

Further, th Chief Engineer, Mandi, highlighted that the contractor had failed to comply with key contract conditions. Yet, no action, disciplinary or financial, had been taken against either the contractor or departmental officials as of March 2023.

To manage traffic following the closure, a temporary one-way bailey bridge was constructed for Rs 2 crore, adding to the avoidable burden on the state exchequer.

The audit also pointed to the absence of mandatory inspection records during construction, leaving no way to ascertain whether required quality checks were ever carried out.

The CAG concluded that poor scrutiny of design, weak quality control, failure to investigate the damaged structure and delays in rehabilitation defeated the main objective of easing congestion on the Kullu–Manali route and improving the movement of local produce.

The audit findings were referred to the state government in April 2023, but no response had been received till October 2024.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu yesterday announced that the state government would provide Rs 5 crore each for bone marrow infrastructure development at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital, Shimla; AIIMS-Bilaspur, Chamiyana hospital, Tanda medical college, Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital at Ner Chowk (Mandi) and Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur.

He also announced the introduction of an “incentive policy” for doctors, to be based on various parameters. In the upcoming Budget, the monthly stipend of Postgraduate resident doctors would be enhanced to Rs 50,000 in the first year, Rs 60,000 in the second year and Rs 65,000 in the third year. Besides, he announced Rs 5 lakh for the Central Students’ Union to organise its cultural programme.

Sukhu made these announcements while presiding over the annual function ‘Stimulus 2025-26’ organised by the Central Students’ Union of the IGMC, Shimla.

He congratulated the students and the organisers for putting on a vibrant show and said that the IGMC students had consistently excelled in every field. He added that the students of this prestigious medical college had brought laurels to the state at national and international levels.

He also announced Rs 5 crore for laparoscopic facilities and Rs 6 crore for the Department of Anaesthesia at the IGMC. He directed the authorities concerned to expedite the land transfer required for the construction of a new student hostel at the IGMC. He instructed the Principal of the college to complete the process of shifting the gynaecology wing from the Kamla Nehru Hospital to the IGMC.

The Chief Minister said that the aim of the state government was to bring world-class diagnostic services to Himachal Pradesh so patients received the best and timely treatment. He announced plans to equip five medical colleges in the state with world-class medical technology.

He said that the government had decided to invest over Rs 3,000 crore to upgrade healthcare infrastructure and expand modern health services. “The government has also decided to replace medical equipment that has been in use for over two decades with modern and advanced machinery comparable to the standards of AIIMS, Delhi, and the PGI, Chandigarh,” he added.

Sukhu said, “To strengthen medical education, the government has increased the number of seats for training in B.Sc Medical Laboratory, Radiology and Imaging, Anaesthesia and OT Technology from 10 to 50 at the IGMC and from 18 to 50 at Tanda medical college.”

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that women will be inducted into Fire Services, with necessary amendments to recruitment rules to be made soon.

He presided over the 63rd Raising Day function of Himachal Pradesh Home Guards and Civil Defence at Sarogheen, prioritising women empowerment under the Vyavastha Parivartan initiative.

Sukhu praised the Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire Services, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for their contributions to the state’s safety and development. Recruitment for Home Guards will start soon.

The departments successfully carried out 708 search and rescue operations, saving 448 lives, protected property worth Rs 2,000 crore, and restored 1,035 water sources and bodies.

The government is strengthening these departments with four new fire stations, 27 new fire tenders, and 150 sanctioned posts.

A total of Rs 55 crore has been allocated for Fire Services modernisation, and advanced equipment worth Rs 6 crore has been provided to SDRF, including drones for aerial surveys and search operations.

Sukhu highlighted maternity leave benefits for woman Home Guards and launched the ‘Miracle of Mind’ app to combat drug abuse.

Personnel were honoured for outstanding performance, and a ‘Safe Himachal’ demonstration showcased fire-fighting and rescue drills.

Additional Director General Satwant Atwal Trivedi presented the department’s activities, including 11,000 mock drills and 3,000 awareness camps training two lakh citizens.

The Himachal Pradesh Government has contemplated disciplinary proceedings against Rajesh Verma, Superintendent of Police (SP), Communication & Technical Services, Shimla, and has placed him under suspension with immediate effect.

A suspension order was issued by Sudesh Kumar Mokhta, Special Secretary (Home), late Wednesday evening.

As per orders, the action has been taken by the Special Secretary by exercising his powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.

The SP has been directed to remain at Police Headquarters in Shimla and will not be allowed to leave the headquarters without obtaining the permission of Director General of Police (DGP), Himachal Pradesh, Ashok Tewari.

As the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh nears completion of its three-year tenure on December 11, the BJP on Thursday mounted a sharp attack on the Sukhu-led regime, accusing it of “misrule, corruption and anti-people policies”.

These remarks were made at a massive protest rally organised by the party in Dharamsala, which saw participation of thousands of supporters and common people.

The Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was greeted with loud chants of ‘Hamara neta kaisa ho, Jai Ram Thakur jaisa ho’.

Thakur said even in the Vidhan Sabha, BJP leaders often greet each other with ‘Radhe Radhe’, in a pointed reference to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s earlier remark about bringing Congress to power in a ‘97 per cent Hindu-dominated state’.

Attacking the government’s performance, Thakur alleged that every section of society was now protesting against the ruling Congress.

“We have raised the slogan—vyavastha patan ke 3 saal, badlo badlo bhrasht Congress sarkaar,” he said. He claimed that the state had witnessed unprecedented natural disasters since the Congress came to power, adding that “this is what the Sukhu government has brought with it”.

The former CM alleged that funds for social welfare schemes like the Shagun Yojana and Himcare had been stopped.

Questioning the utilisation of Central aid, he demanded details of how the state spent the Rs 5,500 crore already received under disaster relief funds, even as he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement of an additional Rs 1,500 crore and assured that these funds will be released soon.

Thakur also raised issues such as delays in sanctioning funds for the Central University’s Dharamsala campus, alleged attempts to sell properties of the Agriculture University, and amendments to Section 118 of the Revenue Act, which he termed as ‘Himachal on sale’. He criticised the cane-charge on ABVP activists, saying people across the state were now “ready to uproot the Congress government”.

Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur also targeted the government, accusing the Chief Minister of acting “against the interests of the Hindu community”, which comprises 97 per cent of Himachal’s population.

Urging the crowd to chant ‘Radhe Radhe, Jai Jai Sia Ram’, he slammed the state government over deteriorating law and order conditions and the deepening financial crisis.

He said the Congress had failed to fulfil its poll guarantees and asserted that the party must be removed from power “to save Himachal Pradesh and restore its development trajectory”.

Ice skating sessions at the historic Ice Skating Rink in Shimla are set to begin on December 4, following successful trial runs held on Wednesday.

Around 10 skaters participated in the trail session, after which the Shimla Ice Skating Club decided to commence regular sessions from Thursday.

Rajat Malhotra, General Secretary of the club, said, “Only morning sessions will be held for now. Evening sessions will start once day temperatures dip further and the ice quality improves.”

“We are also planning to organise a skating carnival in the last week of December if the weather permits,” he added.

In a small, quiet neighbourhood of Sain Mohalla in Mandi district, the silence feels heavier than ever.

Behind the closed doors of a modest home, two children — a teenage girl and her younger brother (both minors) — are struggling to come to terms with a tragedy that has shaken their world forever.

Their mother, who battled for her life for several days after sustaining grievous acid burns, succumbed to her injuries at PGIMER Chandigarh.

Their father is now in judicial remand, accused of attacking her. For these children, the nightmare has not ended. It has only begun.

Relatives describe the children as “shattered”, unable to comprehend how their own home became the site of such horrific violence. The relatives stepped forward to support them, but the emotional trauma runs deep.

“The children have not spoken much since that night,” said Keshu Rajput, a close relative. “They keep asking why this happened to their mother. No one has an answer.”

According to Keshu Rajput, after this tragic incident, no one is there to take care of these children who lost their mother and their father is behind bars.

Their grandparents had died earlier. They need government support in this difficult situation. He said that these children should be taken under Children of State Welfare scheme initiated by the state government.

NR Thakur, District Child Protection Officer, Mandi, stated that children exposed to such violent incidents often suffer long-lasting psychological effects — fear, anxiety, nightmares and trust issues. “We are providing counselling support to these children,” said Thakur.

Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan has already directed the District Programme Officer to bring these children under a welfare scheme, which was initiated by the state government to help such children.

Women’s rights activists argue that these children should not only receive emotional and psychological assistance, but also long-term financial and educational support.

“They should not have to bear the consequences of a crime they never chose,” said a representative of a women’s welfare group in Mandi.

According to NR Thakur, schools in the region have been told to provide a sensitive environment to such children when they eventually return to their classroom environment.

Vidhya Negi, Chairman of HP State Commission for Women, stated that soon she would meet the daughter of the deceased victim to know whether she wants to live in her house or a rehabilitation centre.

For now, the two siblings remain surrounded by grief and unanswered questions. Their future — once filled with ordinary dreams — is now clouded with uncertainty. But one thing is painfully clear: the scars of this tragedy will take far longer to heal than the wounds inflicted.

A resounding message against drug abuse echoed through Dharamsala today as Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu flagged off and participated in the ‘Anti-Chitta Awareness Walkathon’, rallying with the youth to convey the spirit behind statewide movement against the growing menace of ‘Chitta’.

The walkathon began at Dari Mela Ground and concluded at Police Ground drawing massive participation from students of more than 50 educational institutions.

With banners, slogans and strong resolve, thousands of young participants marched to raise awareness and encourage societal responsibility in combating drug addiction.

The event, themed ‘Chitta ko Harana Hai—Yuwaon ko Bachana Hai’, aimed to mobilise the youth in a mission-mode approach to safeguard the future of Himachal Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering at the Police Ground, CM Sukhu delivered a firm and unequivocal message: “There is no place for Chitta in Dev Bhoomi Himachal.”

He urged young people to become active partners in eradicating the drug problem, emphasizing that the fight against narcotics requires collective effort and sustained vigilance.

The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s robust measures under the NDPS 2024 framework designed to curb drug trafficking with stringent enforcement.

He detailed the recent confiscation of properties acquired through drug trade, noting that around Rs 40 crore worth of assets had already been seized. “No person, no matter how influential or wealthy, will be spared,” he asserted, sending a clear warning to traffickers.

In a major announcement, Sukhu launched the ‘Chotta Prize Yojna’, an incentive-driven initiative encouraging citizens to report drug-related activities.

Informants, whose identities will remain confidential, will receive Rs 10,000 for information on 2 grams, Rs 25,000 for 5 grams, Rs 50,000 for 25 grams, and up to Rs 5 lakh for larger hauls. Citizens can report by simply dialling 112.

Throughout the event, the Chief Minister interacted warmly with students and youth groups, gathering feedback and motivating them to stay committed to the cause.

The rally concluded with Sukhu leading the crowd in the powerful slogan that encapsulated the day’s spirit: “Chitta ko Harana Hai—Yuwaon ko Bachana Hai!”

Newly appointed Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Vinay Kumar has said the dissolved state Congress committee would be reconstituted within the next two-three months.

Kumar formally took charge from outgoing HPCC chief Pratibha Singh at a function at the Congress headquarters here today.

“We will build a team that will take the programmes and policies of the government to the public. Once the team is in place, we will start preparing for the 2027 Assembly elections to repeat the 2022 success,” the three-time MLA from Renukaji Assembly constituency said amid applause from the large gathering comprising Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Pratibha Singh, Cabinet Ministers, AICC officials, former HPCC presidents and party workers.

Reiterating that he has good relations with all senior leaders, Kumar said he would take everyone along while carrying out his duties as the party president.

“I will be the voice of the party workers and act as a link between the party and the government,” the 47-year-old said while urging the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to offer him the required support.

Congratulating Pratibha Singh on her successful stint as HPCC president and Kumar on his new responsibility, the Chief Minister assured that the government would stand like a rock behind the new party chief as be rebuilds the party to take on and beat the BJP in the 2027 elections.

Congratulating Kumar, outgoing president Pratibha Singh revealed her angst over the delay in reconstitution of the dissolved HPCC, which is lying defunct for over a year.

“I took up the matter with the central leadership several times, still it was delayed. It should have been done a long time back. Without the organsiation, it is tough to hold rallies and protests. Now that we have the new president, the organsiation should also be revived at the earliest,” she said.

Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri also expressed concern over the delay in reconstituting the organisation in the state.

“There has been uncertainty for one year. We must constitute the HPCC quickly and bring in people who want to work and devote time to the party,” said Agnihotri. Congratulating Kumar, Agnihotri said the new party chief comes from the constituency of YS Parmar, and would take his legacy forward.

Commending Pratibha Singh for the work she put in during her tenure, AICC incharge for Himachal Rajni Patil said the combination of Sukhu and Kumar would further strengthen the party.

To bolster peak power availability in northern India, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has proposed a 1,500 MW pumped storage power project near the Bhakra Dam head in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district.

The planned project would exceed the generation capacity of the Bhakra Dam itself, which currently produces about 1,379 MW.

Sources told The Tribune that the BBMB has identified Dobar village in the Shivalik foothills for the ambitious project. Engineers have pinpointed a narrow gorge in the area where a 20 million cubic metre (MCM) reservoir can be constructed.

The project hinges on advanced reversible-turbine technology — turbines that can both pump water and generate electricity.

Under the proposed plan, water will be lifted from the existing Gobind Sagar Lake of Bhakra Dam to the newly carved Dobar reservoir during peak hours, to generate power. During peak demand hours, the same water would be released back into the Gobind Sagar Lake, generating electricity again.

This dual-purpose operation allows the system to produce power, making it an efficient solution for balancing energy supply during peak demand hours.

BBMB officials said the technology, though new to North India, is not entirely unfamiliar to the country. A similar pumped-storage model has been in operation at the Purulia Dam in West Bengal.

With the increasing dependence on solar energy across states, the northern grid is facing significant challenges in meeting morning and evening peak demand. The proposed 1,500 MW project is expected to bridge this gap effectively by operating roughly five hours each during morning and evening peak periods.

The full board of BBMB had approved the concept in 2024. Since then, the organisation has already completed the tendering process for selecting consultants to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Once the DPR is finalised, the project will require mandatory environmental clearances from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

However, BBMB’s plan is caught in negotiations with the Himachal Pradesh government, which must grant final approval. Himachal currently receives 7.5 per cent free power from BBMB’s existing projects.

But in the case of hydro projects built by other central and private agencies such as NTPC and NHPC, the state secures 12 per cent free power. Sources indicated that Himachal may insist on a similar 12 per cent quota from BBMB’s new project since it falls within its territory.

Officials aware of the discussions said the matter is still under active negotiation, and a final agreement may take time. Until the power sharing structure is settled, formal approval is unlikely.

Despite these hurdles, the proposed project is being viewed as a strategic asset for the region’s power landscape. Notably, the pumped-storage mechanism would not interfere with the irrigation commitments of the Bhakra Dam, which supplies water to Punjab and Haryana.

Since the same water is cycled between two reservoirs without affecting downstream flows, the irrigation schedule remains intact.

If executed, the project will significantly enhance BBMB’s capacity to support grid stability and meet rising peak load demands, especially as renewable energy penetration grows.

While it may take a few years before construction begins, officials say the long-term gains in energy reliability, grid flexibility and regional power security make it one of the most critical hydro-electric proposals in recent years.

The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Friday unanimously passed a private member’s resolution seeking formal recognition of Wazir Ram Singh Pathania as a freedom fighter, highlighting his leadership in an armed revolt against British rule in 1848, almost a decade before the uprising of 1857.

Legislators from both the Congress and the BJP supported the motion, urging the Union Government to acknowledge Pathania’s pioneering role in India’s early resistance against colonial authority.

Congress MLAs Kewal Singh Pathania and Bhawani Singh Pathania jointly introduced the resolution, emphasising that Pathania deserved to be counted among the earliest leaders of India’s freedom struggle.

“This House should consider declaring Wazir Ram Singh Pathania ji as one among the pioneer freedom fighters of the war of independence and recommend the same to the state and Central Government,” they said.

An extensive discussion followed, during which members cutting across party lines stressed the historical importance of Pathania’s campaign against the British in the mid-19th century.

BJP legislators Ranvir Singh Nikka and Dr Janak Raj, along with Congress MLA Sanjay Rattan, underlined that while national icons have been appropriately honoured, several remarkable regional heroes, such as Pathania, remain largely absent from mainstream historical accounts.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan welcomed the resolution and acknowledged that Pathania’s contribution has long been overlooked.

“Wazir Ram Singh Pathania was among the great heroes of our state who made significant contributions in the struggle against British rule,” he said. Chauhan informed the House that the Nurpur Rajput Sabha had raised this issue with the state government in 2019.

After an initial review of available records, the matter was forwarded to the Central Government, but a response is still awaited.

He added that historical evidence points to Pathania’s leadership in several crucial campaigns challenging British dominance, earning him a rightful place among the earliest leaders of organised resistance. Chauhan assured the House that the state government remains committed to ensuring such unsung figures receive their due honour.

“His sacrifice and contributions will always remain memorable in the history of the state and the nation,” he said.

The minister further announced that the General Administration Department would be instructed to re-examine the proposal and initiate the necessary procedures.

This would include reviewing archival material, consulting historians and assessing eligibility norms for granting freedom fighter status. If amendments to existing rules are required, Chauhan said the government would actively pursue them.

He also said the Language, Art and Culture Department would take up the task of documenting and publicising Pathania’s contributions, along with those of other lesser-known heroes, to fill historical gaps and ensure that future generations understand their sacrifices.

The Hindu Sangharsh Samiti along with the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti on Saturday staged a protest against the state government for allowing prayers to be offered in a mosque in Sanjaulli, which has been declared illegal by the court.

The protesters carried out a funeral procession in Sanjaulli and burnt an effigy of the state government outside the Police Station, Sanjaulli.

Madan Thakur, Co-Convener of the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, said that several persons offered prayers in the disputed structure, despite the administration’s assurance that prayers would not be allowed in the mosque.

“This shows that the administration is with them and is favouring them while our demands are being ignored. It looks like efforts are being made to make this illegal mosque legal,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Muslim community has challenged the decision of the district court in the High Court and has filed a petition in the court. The district court in October had upheld the Shimla Municipal Corporation’s Commissioner’s Court and had directed the demolition of the structure.