Himachal Pradesh High Court restrains Sukhu govt from using university land for tourism village

The HP High Court today restrained the state authorities from transferring 112 hectares belonging to Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Agriculture University, Palampur, to the Tourism Department for setting up a tourism village.

While passing the interim order, a Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Ranjan Sharma directed the Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Tourism and Agriculture Departments, Kangra DC and the Registrar of the university to file replies by October 17.

The court passed the order on a PIL filed by the HP Agriculture Teachers’ Association, contending that the transfer of the university land to the department would adversely affect the interests of agricultural education and farmers.

The association and locals had submitted representations to the Governor and the CM on August 29. It was further contended that seven former VCs had also requested the state not to transfer the land for the project as it would impact teaching and research.