In a major setback, the Himachal Pradesh government has been left volte-face in its plan to utilise fertile land of CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, for a tourism village project after the Supreme Court refused to hear its plea against the High Court order staying the transfer of university land for the tourism venture.
The government had proposed an ambitious tourism village project in Palampur in Kangra district to promote tourism in Himachal Pradesh. It had ordered the transfer of 112 hectares of the varsity’s fertile land for the purpose despite protests by teachers and students on the campus.
The land, located opposite the Veterinary College on the Agriculture University campus in Palampur, is fertile and was being used for significant crop trials and other research purposes by the university.
The HP Agricultural University Teachers Association had approached the High Court against the government’s decision in 2024, following which the high court stayed the transfer of land. Paying no heed to concerns raised by teachers and students over safeguarding university land, the government later moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s stay order.
The Teachers Association, headed by Dr Janardan Singh, had stated in its representation to the government that the decision to give fertile agricultural land to the Agricultural University, which contributes significantly to the mountain agriculture research, for commercial tourism purposes was unjustified. The teachers maintained that the university has to carry out important research in the fields and giving its land for tourism purposes was not at all justified.
The Palampur Agriculture University has a total landholding of around 397 hectares. In the past, portions of university land have already been allotted for a government degree college, helipad and other public purposes. Currently, the university runs four colleges — Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences, Community Sciences and Basic Sciences — and the available land is barely sufficient to run these colleges.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, who had earlier termed the state government’s decision to transfer university land for the tourism project unwarranted, hailed the court’s decision, saying it was expected. “We do not understand why the government is hell bent to benefit certain people at the cost of state resources. Diverting precious university land for a tourism venture was a bad idea,” he said.
This is not the first time the present state government has faced criticism for approaching the Supreme Court despite concerns over state interest. Over the past three-and-a-half years, the government — which frequently complains of financial crisis— has been spending substantial amounts for hiring advocates in the Supreme Court on issues which would seemingly not do any good to the state. And often it has lost the cases, robbing the state exchequer of funds for no reason.
Also read: 15 hurt as tempo traveller overturns in Bilaspur
Follow us
