The High Court of H.P. today issued notices to the Principal Secretary(Urban Development), Secretary(HIMUDA) and Executive Officer of Municipal Council, Parwanoo, District Solan, in a matter related to allotment of houses by M.C. Parwanoo, in violation of the rules. The Court directed the respondents to file reply within six weeks.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Sabina passed these orders on a writ petition filed by one Satish Berry, who has alleged that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation had formulated guidelines for integrated housing and slum development programme in the year 2008-2009 with an objective to strive for the holistic slum development by providing adequate shelter and basic infrastructure facilities to the slum dwellers of the identifies urban areas. He has alleged that on 21.02.2009, the same was approved by the respondent State for the areas of Parwanoo and about 192 families were identified. In the year 2013, 36 families were allotted flats in the first phase.

M.C. Parwanoo had not allotted flats in accordance with the rules and pick and choose policy was adopted. He has also alleged that the remaining dwelling houses could have even been rented out to generate income, however M.C. Parwanoo has taken no concrete steps for either allotment or renting out the dwelling houses and is sleeping over the matter.

The flats were completed in the year 2016 and in the year 2017, 23 families were allotted flats in the second phase. Since 2017, 133 flats are lying vacant despite the fact that about 192 families were identified at the initial stage and about 88-98 applications are lying under consideration with the Municipal Council, Parwanoo which were received in the year 2014 and 2015.

He has alleged that as per the rules of allotment, the person to whom the benefit is to be extended under the integrated Housing for slum development programme should not have a house and a certificate in this regard has to be issued by a competent authority and further the person to whom the benefit is to be extended should be residing in the M.C. Council area from last 15 years.

However, the M.C. Parwanoo had not allotted flats in accordance with the rules and pick and choose policy was adopted. He has also alleged that the remaining dwelling houses could have even been rented out to generate income, however M.C. Parwanoo has taken no concrete steps for either allotment or renting out the dwelling houses and is sleeping over the matter.

He has alleged that the dwelling houses have ruined and public money has been wasted. The petitioner has prayed to direct the respondents to allot the dwelling houses to the applicants in accordance with rules in a time bound manner by independent agency and not by M.C. Parwanoo. He has also prayed to penalize the erring Councilors, officers of the Municipal Council who have evidently delayed the allotment of dwelling houses and made allotment dehors the rules .

The Court posted the matter for 02.12.2021.