High Court attaches Himachal Bhawan after Congress government fails to clear outstanding electricity dues

Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s government has brought a new low to the state of Himachal Pradesh because of its misgovernance and freebie policies. On the 18th of November, the Himachal Pradesh High Court ordered the attachment of Himachal Bhavan in Delhi after the state government failed to clear outstanding electricity dues of nearly ₹150 crore. 

The building, located in Mandi House, may now be auctioned to recover the outstanding dues. The issue stems from the Congress-led Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government’s failure to comply with earlier orders to repay ₹64 crore related to the 400 MW Seli Hydro Project on the Chenab River in Lahaul-Spiti. However, due to the government’s failure to comply with the order, the dues have increased to approximately ₹150 crore including interest. 

In its ruling, the court directed the Principal Secretary of the Power Department to conduct a fact-finding inquiry to determine the officials responsible for the negligence leading to the mounting dues. The court emphasized that the funds involved belong to the state treasury and warned of severe consequences for continued non-compliance. The attachment of Himachal Bhavan is seen as a significant move to hold the government accountable. This decision grants the affected company the right to auction Himachal Bhavan to recover its dues, marking a critical juncture in the long-standing dispute. 

Under the leadership of Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Himachal Pradesh’s debt is all set to cross the mark of Rs 90,000 crores. The state’s financial struggles stem from excessive borrowing, escalating salary and pension expenses, inadequate revenue generation, and dispersing freebies. 

The Congress Government’s grand freebie strategy has made the state of Himachal Pradesh stand in such a petty condition. There have been plenty of times when economists and experts have warned against freebie politics as it harms the financial health of the state but the Congress Government has been adopting populist measures for its short-sighted political gains. 

Guarantees made by the Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s Government like reviving the Old Pension Scheme and paying Rs 1,500 to women proved to be the nail in the coffin of the financial health of Himachal. 

One of the Sukhu Government’s pre-poll guarantees is paying a Rs 1,500 monthly allowance for five lakh women, which costs Rs 800 crore annually. Moreover, the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) restoration is costing the state of Himachal Pradesh Rs 1,000 crore per year. With the state of Himachal Pradesh already in the cage of financial debts, dolling freebies is nothing but overlooking the larger goal of the development of the state for short-term gains.