The LADF fate pending in HP High Court. High Court stays government notifications.
SHIMLA: In a ruling, the Division Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, led by Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Judge Bipin C. Negi, has stayed two notifications that altered the Area Development Fund (LADF) guidelines.
The judges asserted that the fund must be held in a joint account managed by both the Chairman and Member Secretary, and used solely by the institutions or local bodies for which it was intended.
They highlighted that previous notifications, in September 2025 and March 2026, unlawfully expanded orphan assistance to 40% without ensuring the funds were confined to specific areas.
As a result, the court blocked both directives, stating the state had no authority to divert the funds.
The case will be re-listed with CWPIL No. 76 of 2026, as the judges reaffirmed that the fund must stay focused on its original purpose.
The petitioner challenging the notifications was Dr Janak Raj, MLA from Bharmour.
