Himachal: HC imposes Rs 50,000 fine on GAD Secretary; allotment of houses against rules

October 30, 2025

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD) for allotting government accommodation in violation of the rules. It also canceled the allotment of government accommodation under the general pool. The High Court ordered the fine to be deposited in the Chief Justice’s Disaster Relief Fund. The court, led by Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, found that state government officials failed to follow due process in making the allotments.

The court canceled the allotment letters dated January 5, 2024, and March 16, 2024, in which a driver was allotted government accommodation out of turn while previous applications of other employees were pending.

The court directed the authorities to consider the applications of the petitioner and respondent driver within four weeks, in accordance with the allotment rules and the procedure prescribed under the Himachal Pradesh Government Accommodation (General Pool) Allotment Rules, 1994, and the Sumit Kumar decision.

The court found that the allotments were made in a hurry. This violated Rule 8(7) of the Himachal Pradesh Allotment of Government Residences General Pool Rules, 1994. According to the rule, the power to make out-of-turn allotments rests with the House Allotment Committee, not the Principal Secretary, General Administration. The court found this action to be improper, grossly irregular, and illegal.