HP High Court Questions Opaque Government Housing Allotment System, Seeks Reforms
Shimla, June 25: The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has come down heavily on the existing system of allotment of government residential accommodation, observing that the process has become so opaque that securing a government house is often perceived as "nothing less than a lottery."
Hearing a petition filed by Amit Kumar Thakur, an employee of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel expressed concern over the manner in which employees of the Commission are compelled to repeatedly approach the General Administration Department (GAD) for allotment of residential accommodation.
The Court had earlier sought an explanation from the State Government as to why dedicated accommodation could not be provided to HPPSC employees and why they had to "go with a begging bowl" to the GAD every time they required housing.
In its response, the State Government informed the Court that the HPPSC does not have a separate housing pool and that all eligible employees are considered for allotment under the Himachal Pradesh Allotment of Government Residences (General Pool) Rules, 1994. The government further stated that the number of available residences is far lower than the number of applicants, making it impossible to provide accommodation to every eligible employee.
However, the Court was unimpressed with the explanation, remarking that the government's response merely reiterated facts already known and failed to address the larger issue. Justice Goel observed that the monopoly of the GAD Department and the lack of transparency in the allotment process had created a situation where obtaining government accommodation was viewed as a matter of luck rather than a fair administrative process.
The Court suggested that the existing practice of requiring employees to submit fresh applications every year should be reconsidered. Instead, it proposed the creation of a permanent and transparent waiting list of all employees seeking government accommodation. Under such a system, beneficiaries would be removed from the list once allotted accommodation, while new applicants would be added, with seniority maintained according to the date of application.
In a significant observation, the Court also said that independent constitutional and statutory institutions, including the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, should be provided at least some dedicated residential accommodation. This, the Court noted, would enable such institutions to exercise discretion in allotting houses to employees based on functional requirements and genuine need.
The Additional Advocate General assured the Court that its concerns would be conveyed to the competent authorities.
While adjourning the matter to July 20, 2026, the Court made it clear that it expects a more thoughtful and substantive response from the State Government, taking into account both its earlier directions and the observations recorded in the latest order.
