Shimla/Solan
The Himachal Pradesh government is under fire after action in the alleged Chester Hills benami land case in Solan remained stalled despite an official inquiry flagging serious violations. An SDM Solan report submitted in October 2025 had pointed to irregularities under Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, including suspected benami transactions and procedural lapses, but no concrete steps have followed.
The controversy has intensified after it emerged that a letter from the Chief Secretary reportedly led to the halting of proceedings, even as the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has sought clarifications on the same project. RERA has raised concerns over alleged illegal construction, lack of mandatory approvals and environmental clearances, and failure to act on complaints.
Officials said multiple notices sent to the Solan Deputy Commissioner seeking a status report have not received a response. The inquiry had also indicated provisions for penalties up to ₹10 lakh, but enforcement remains unclear.
The apparent contradiction between the Chief Secretary’s intervention and RERA’s continued queries has triggered allegations of administrative inaction and possible shielding of those involved. The government is now facing calls to explain why action was halted, fix accountability and ensure a time-bound probe into the case.
