Decision reserved on commercialization of Town Hall

Shimla. The State High Court reserved its decision in the case related to commercialization of Shimla’s heritage Town Hall building by converting it into a high end café. The division bench of Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua has reserved its decision after a two-day hearing. The court heard the PIL filed by advocate Abhimanyu Rathore.

The petition alleges that Municipal Corporation Shimla has given permission to convert this heritage property into a high end café in violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958A TCP Act. It is alleged that MC Shimla had issued a tender process in the year 2020 for giving lease for running a high-end restaurant on the ground floor of the Heritage Town Hall.

When MC Shimla could not find suitable bidders, it was decided to hand over the responsibility of issuing the tender notice to Himachal Pradesh Infrastructure Development Board (HPIDB). After this, HPIDB issued a tender notice on February 26, 2022. The petition alleges that the private operator contractor is violating heritage building norms by building a high-end café in the heritage building.

The petitioner has urged the Court to direct the government to restore the heritage building to its original form and shape in accordance with law and to utilize it in the most appropriate manner. The applicant has also urged the Court to direct the State Government to initiate appropriate departmental action against the erring officials who failed to monitor and verify the unauthorized internal construction and modification, thereby altering the nature of the heritage building.