hp-minister-s-remarks-on-nautor-land-issue-irks-raj-bhawan

Rift is visible in the state government’s relations with the Raj Bhawan in Himachal Pradesh.

 

It started with the Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla’s observations on the state government’s move to involve the government in the appointment of Vice Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Shimla last year and the constitution of Search committee and some changes in eligibility for appointment of Vice Chancellor in CSK HP Agriculture University, Palampur, which led to some reaction by Agriculture Minister, Chander Kumar. 

 

Both the issues are still stuck, with no headway, leading to ad hoc arrangements in Palampur University as well as HPU, Shimla. 

 

The latest point of contention is the state government’s decision to make provisions for granting ‘Nautor’ land to the tribals, which is pending approval by the Raj Bhawan over one and a half year. 

 

Nautor land is a waste land owned by the government that can be used with the approval of a competent authority. It is located outside of towns, protected forests, and other areas that the state government may notify. The Himachal Pradesh government uses nautor land for initiatives such as allocating land to tribal communities. 

 

Revenue and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi had recently mentioned that the proposal was pending with the Raj Bhawan for long, expressing his displeasure over it. Negi, who is a firebrand Congress leader, had said that he would meet the Governor personally for approval of the proposal and in case there was no positive outcome, he would use the right of peaceful protest as per Constitution. 

 

"I can also take to the streets for this with the public, if required,” he had said. 

 

Reacting to this on media query on the delay in approval for the Nautor land, Governor, Shiv Pratap Shukla categorically said the Raj Bhawan was not there to fulfil the political promises by any leader. He said he had referred the matter to the state government with some objections, but there was no response from the government.

 

"Raj Bhawan will work within the purview of rules. I have asked the government about the names of the people. If some names are presented wrongly, the Raj Bhawan would not be responsible for that,” he said. 

 

Shukla said even if the Tribal Development Minister does not respect the Raj Bhawan, the Raj Bhawan does respect him as he had taken oath as Revenue Minister in the Raj Bhawan only.