Overview
- The Kangra Deputy Commissioner has formally recommended action under Section 8(L) of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act after SDM- and Revenue-led field inquiries found prima facie encroachment by three newly elected councillors.
- The three councillors named are Shamsher Singh Nehria (Ward 2, Bhagsunag), Parveen Kumar (Ward 15, Khaniyara) and Vishal Jamwal (Ward 17, Sidhpur), according to the DC’s communication and inquiry reports.
- Inquiry reports say Nehria built a concrete slab/parking on land recorded as 'Gair Mumkin Nallah,' Parveen is a legal heir to a house allegedly built on government land by his grandfather, and Jamwal maintained an electricity connection for a shop on government land with eviction proceedings under Section 163 started.
- If the DC’s recommendation leads to disqualification of all three councillors, the BJP’s strength would fall from 11 to eight seats in the 17-member Dharamshala Municipal Corporation, dropping it below the majority threshold.
- Despite the complaints and the administrative action, the BJP secured the mayor and deputy-mayor posts unanimously on July 1 after Congress councillors stayed away from the vote, and district officials said further complaints against other councillors will be examined under the law.