Himachal HC directs edu secy to appear in person over delay in releasing ₹30 crore for Central Varsity’s Dharamshala campus

Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the state education secretary to appear in person if the government fails to provide a timeline for releasing ₹30.03 crore for Central University Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala campus.

The court noted that the amount required under Section 2(ii) of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, has not been released despite repeated directions and a previous order on June 2.

A proposal for ₹30.03 crore was submitted to the planning department on July 21 but was returned to the education department with unresolved queries.

The public interest litigation was filed by Atul Bhardwaj, highlighting the prolonged delay in establishing the Central University's Dharamshala campus, stalled for over a decade.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi set the next hearing for September 7.