Shimla, October 14: The Himachal Pradesh government has constituted a commission to examine the reorganisation of administrative units across the state, appointing retired Indian Forest Service officer Rajesh Sharma as one of its members.
According to a notification issued by the General Administration Department on October 14, the commission will review the existing administrative structure and recommend changes, including the creation, merger, bifurcation and reorganisation of various administrative units to improve public convenience and administrative efficiency.
The commission will be chaired by Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary (retd), former judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Advocate Vishal Panwar and Rajesh Sharma, IFS (retd), have been appointed as members. The Director of Land Records, Himachal Pradesh, will serve as the member secretary.
The commission will examine the existing structure of districts, subdivisions, tehsils, sub-tehsils, development blocks and other departmental divisions. It will assess the need for changes based on population, geographical conditions, accessibility, administrative efficiency and public convenience.As part of its mandate, the panel will consult stakeholders, public representatives and concerned government departments before making recommendations. It will also assess the financial implications of establishing new administrative units, including infrastructure and manpower requirements.
The commission has been given six months from the date of notification to submit its final report, along with specific recommendations, to the state government. Its headquarters will be in Shimla.The Revenue Department and the respective deputy commissioners will provide the commission with official records and demographic data, while the General Administration Department will arrange office accommodation, ministerial staff, vehicles and other logistical support.
Administrative secretaries of the Revenue, Finance, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Forest, Public Works, Jal Shakti and General Administration departments will be invited as special invitees, as required, to ensure coordination and provide expert inputs.
The notification was issued by order of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh and signed by Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant.
