Dharamshala, Dec 2 — The Sukhu government on Monday tabled a key amendment to the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) in the Vidhan Sabha, clearing the way for tighter government control over the state’s real estate regulator.
Under the proposed amendment, the power to select the RERA Chief will shift from the Chief Justice to the Chief Secretary.
The change effectively places the authority — which approves all real estate projects in Himachal Pradesh — directly under the administrative control of the state government.
The amendment has triggered sharp reactions from experts and stakeholders.
Experts said the Congress government has “revamped the selection process” in a way that raises red flags, calling it the first such move in the country.
They termed it an “exercise in appointment of puppets,” warning that it poses “serious concern for the scientific growth of infrastructure projects.
They further pointed out that the amendment could open “an open conflict with the High Court.”
Responding to proposed amendment experts say confrontations have become “routine as the High Court is already passing strict judgments against populism.”
With this move, RERA is set to get a “free run” under the government’s watch, raising questions over checks and balances in the crucial sector.
Whether anyone will challenge the amendment in the High Court remains to be seen, as legal experts hint at possible concerns over independence and transparency.
#HimachalPolitics #RERAAmendment #RealEstateRegulation #VidhanSabhaNews
