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Himachal Pradesh Administrative History

Administrative History

Himachal Pradesh was formed on 15th april 1948 with the merger of twenty six Shimla hill states and four Punjab hill states into a centrally administered Chief Commissioners Province.

  • Its Headquarter was located in building of the British Indian foreign office at Shimla which was destroyed by fire on 9th may 1957.
  • Headed by first chief commissioner N .C Mehta (1948).
  • Deputy Chief Commissioner was Penderal Moon (Became second Chief Commissioner in 1950).
  • Bhagwan Sahai (1951) was 3rd Chief Commissioner.
  • On 30th Sep 1948 an advisory council was formed to advise the Chief Commissioner. Council consisted of three erstwhile rulers from Mandi, Chamba and Baghat (Solan) and 6 representatives of people were Lilavati, Y.S Parmar, Mehta Avtar Chand, Swami Purnanand, Shri Padam Dev, L. Shiv Chand Dass. But council was ignored, ultimately they resigned.
  • Secretariat in those days was called Himachal Dham.

On 15th April 1948 Chamba, Mandi, Sirmaur and Mahasu were created.

In 1950 Under Absorption of Enclave order :

  • Two villages of Uttar Pradesh Sangog and Bhandar were included in Jubble tehsil.
  • Chabrot area of PEPSU was merged in Kasumpati Tehsil in exchange seven villages of Kasaumapati tehsil were given to Punjab (sanjauli, Wakna, Bhari , Bharari , Kasumpati, Kato, Rampur).

In 1954 (1st Jul) Bilaspur was merged in Himachal, It had two tehsils Bilaspur and Ghumarwin.

On 1st may 1960 Kinnaur was carved out of Chinni tehsil and 14 villages of Rampur tehsil were also added to it.

In 1966 Kangra, Kullu, Lahual Spiti and Shimla 4 more districts were created when Punjab was reorganized.

On 25 Jan 1971 Himachal Pradesh was given statehood and it became 18th state of India.

On 29 Aug 1972 Kangra, Mahasu and Shimla(Shimla,Kandaghat and Nalagarh) districts were reorganized into following districts:

  • Kangra, Hamirpur and Una.
  • Mahasu and Shimla districts were reorganized into Shimla and Solan.

In 1951 Himachal became Part C state.

On 24th march 1952 S Parmar became CM (1st) with three members’ ministry & end of Chief Commissioner.

In March 1952, K.L Mehta became first chief secretary of the state.

1954 Department of Public Relations was established to initiate process of cordial relations and for publicizing government activities.

On 1st Nov 1956 H.P. became UT under the control of chief administrator and secretariat.

In 1957 Govt of India created joint IAS/IPS cadres for P and Delhi, functioning under Ministry of Home.

To provide democratic look to the Govt (Indian Parliament) Passed in Dec 1956 the Territorial council Act, 1956 and Territorial Council was formed.

To look loopholes of system central Govt appointed a committee under Ashok Sen, the then union Law minister. Committee submitted report in 1962- and recommended transfer of more subjects to the territorial council. So, in The Govt of union territories act 1963, provided legislative assembly in place of territorial council.

In 1965 separate civil and police cadres for U.T therefore Delhi, P, Andaman Nicobar cadres were created on 1st Dec 1965.

In 1966 Punjab was reorganized and some of its parts were merged with Himachal Pradesh.

1964 the first administrative reform commission headed by Morarji Desai.

Himachal Non gazette employees federation was set up on 20th Nov 1966.

Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission(HPPSC)

  • Established on 25th april 1971 under Articles 315 to 323.
  • Minimum four members and a chairman. All members can serve for maximum 6 years or till the age of 60 years.
  • First Chairman Lt general S. Katoch

Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Subordinate Board(HPSSSB, Hamirpur)

  • Established on 6th Oct 1998.
  • First Chairman : C Malhotra
  • First secretary :Nirmal Singh
  • Created to expedite the process of recruitment for class three posts excepts which fall under Himachal Pradesh High Court, Vidhan Sabha, HPPSC.

On 13th May 1986 reorganized divisions.

  • Kangra(H.Q: Dharamshala) :Una, Kangra ,Chamba
  • Mandi(H.Q: Mandi) : Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu, L & S.
  • Shimla (H.Q: Shimla):Shimla, Kinnaur, Solan, Sirmaur.

Some facts about Himachal Administration:

  • 12 Districts
  • 3 Divisions
  • 34 Sub tehsils
  • 51 Subdivisions

Parliamentat constituencie :

  • Lok Sabha :4
  • Rajya Sabha: 3
  • Zila parishads :12
  • Gram panchayats : 3243
  • Blocks :77
  • Tehsils : 83

Chief Secretary is Head of all department and each Division is administered Divisional Commissioner.

There is a Resident commissioner for Pangi subdivision.

A District is headed by District collector or Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner. Superintendent of Police (S.P) assists him in maintenance of law and order.

At block level there is a BDO (Block Development Officer) recruited by state Govt).

On 27 august 2014 state Govt classified Tehsils and sub Tehsils on the basis of Patwar circles.

  • Tehsils with 30 patwar circles :category A
  • Tehsils with 15-29 patwar circles: category B
  • Tehsils with <15 patwar circles :category C

HP Institute of Public Administration

  • Established on 1st Jan 1974.
  • It was constructed by R. Dixon, later taken over by Nawab Muzaffar Ali Khan Qizzalbash.

Lal Bahadur Shastri National academy of administration, Mussoorie provides training to IAS officers.

Himachal Pradesh lokayukta:

  • The beginning was made in Sweden where its constitution of ombudsman to protect the citizens against administrative injustice or abuse of power by a public official.
  • The demand for the setting up of such institution was first made in India by M. Munshi a member of parliament in 1960.
  • 1966R.C (Administrative Reforms Commission) recommended a two tier machinery of Lokpal (at centre) and lokayukta (in each state) to deal with complains against other officials.
  • Orissa became first state to enact the lakayukta Act.
  • Maharashtra was first state to appoint a Lokayukta.
  • In Kerala there is Public men appointed in 1983 and in Nagaland vigilance commission.
  • Himachal Pradesh lokayukta act was passed in 1983
  • Governor will appoint lokayukta after consultation with Chief Justice of High Court and Leader of Opposition for term of 5 years.

Some Important Acts:

  • HP municipal corporation Act 1980
  • HP cooperative societies Act 1968.
  • Official secrets Act 1923.
  • Code of civil procedure 1908 Act.

HP administrative Tribunal

  • Established on 1st Jan 1986.
  • No power to pronounce validity of constitutionality of a statute.
  • Headed by chairman

HP High Court

  • Under Art 216 every state shall have High Court.
  • Judges are appointed by president in consultation with Chief Justice of India and Governor of respective state.
  • Age of retirement is 62 year.
  • In 1948 a Judical commissioner court was set up.
  • On 29 april 1967 two new district and session court one for Shimla and other for Kangra was established.
  • On 1st 1967 jurisdiction of Delhi High Court act 1966 extended to UT of Himachal Pradesh and replaced judicial commissioner court (Himachal Bench Of Delhi at Shimla).
  • In 1971P High Court was established with One Chief Justice and 10 judges.
  • Leila Seth became 1st women Chief Justice of HP on 5th Aug 1991.

Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy

  • Established on 24 Nov 2005.
  • Situated at Curzon house (Residence of lord Curzon) under CJ of H.P.
  • To impart training, refresher, orientation etc

Shimla district court complex: 1st structure in Shimla inspired by Gothic architecture completed in Dec 2012. It houses Police lockups, courtroom, bar room etc.

Legal Aid Clinic

  • H.P set up 49 LAC In all districts to help destitute in their need of legal help.
  • Former CJI P .Sathasivam inaugurated the scheme on 24th Jan 2014.

The National commission of protection of child rights was set up in March 2007 under the (commission for protection of child rights, 2005).

  • In H.P. commission was set up on 24 April 2013
  • Shyama Dogra became 1st chairperson.