Solan Housing Row: SHIMLA- The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government finds itself in a tight spot over a controversial gated :The Chester Hills” housing project in Solan, with the Chief Minister now ordering a detailed investigation into allegations of illegal land deals. This move comes three months after a local probe suggested that state land laws were bypassed to favor outsiders-a sensitive issue in Himachal Pradesh.
The controversy took a dramatic turn on last Tuesday when officiating Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta distanced himself from the matter. In an unusual move, Gupta accused his predecessors, Prabodh Saxena and R D Dhiman, of trying to “malign” his image. The infighting among the state’s top brass has only added heat to an already simmering political issue.
The ‘Section 118’ Knot
At the heart of the storm is the Chester Hills project in Ber Khas, Solan. A probe by Solan SDM Poonam Bansal earlier found that the project used a “structured arrangement” to dodge Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act. This law is a cornerstone of state policy, strictly barring the sale of agricultural land to non-agriculturists from outside Himachal without the sarkar’s express nod.
The SDM’s report revealed that the land was officially in the name of Hans Raj Thakur, an agriculturist from Mandi, the real control lay elsewhere. The “substantive control, development, and marketing” were allegedly handled by non-agriculturist promoters from outside the state through M/s Chester Hills.
Big Money, Small Loophole?
The scale of the project is massive. Around 228 flats, priced between ₹50 lakh and ₹90 lakh, are planned across nearly 275 bighas of land. The total value of the housing projects is estimated at ₹47.09 crore.
The SDM’s inquiry hit a nerve because it suggested that local agriculturists were being used as fronts to help outsiders acquire large tracts of land-a practice that has always been a flashpoint in the state’s politics.
A Government on the Backfoot
For the Sukhu administration, the timing couldn’t be worse. In December 2025, the government was forced to retreat on a Bill that sought to relax Section 118 for businesses and real estate. Following a massive outcry from the Opposition and local activists, the Bill was sent to a select committee.
Adding to the complexity is the role of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). The project’s extensions were cleared in 2023 when Shrikant Baldi-a former Chief Secretary himself—was the RERA chairman.
Flip-Flops and Finger Pointing
The file has seen its fair share of back-and-forth:
- August 2025: Local resident Rajiv Shandil and an allottees’ association filed a complaint.
- November 2025: Project stakeholders approached Sanjay Gupta (then officiating CS-Revenue) for relief.
- December 2025: Gupta stayed the SDM’s findings, arguing that cancelling the project would actually hurt the interests of the agriculturists the law is meant to protect.
However, with the CM now stepping in, the previous clearances are under the scanner again. “If something wrong has happened, definite action will be taken,” CM Sukhu said on Wednesday, promising a thorough review before the government takes a final stand.
As the neta-babu combine grapples with the fallout, the future of the 228 flats and the ₹47 crore investment hangs in the balance.
