Shimla, February 17
The ongoing Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha witnessed fresh political friction after the state government re-passed two key amendment bills that had earlier been returned by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla for reconsideration.
The government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu pushed through the RERA Amendment Bill and the Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill in their original form, without incorporating the Governor’s suggested changes.
The RERA amendment shifts the authority to head the selection committee for appointing the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) chairperson and members from the Chief Justice of the High Court to the Chief Secretary of the state — a move that has sparked criticism from the opposition.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation amendment extends the tenure of mayors and deputy mayors from two-and-a-half years to five years.
Both bills were cleared by voice vote amid opposition protests, signalling growing tension between the state government and the Raj Bhavan during the Budget Session.
