Himachal Assembly clears 5-year term for Mayor, Dy Mayor

The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Monday passed the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026, extending the tenure of Mayor and Deputy Mayor from two-and-a-half years to five years. The legislation was earlier returned by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla with certain queries, following its passage during the 2025 winter session in Dharamsala.

Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh reintroduced the Bill, which was cleared without discussion. In the interim, as the Assembly was not in session, the government had promulgated an ordinance on October 25, 2025. The newly passed law replaces that ordinance.

The government has argued that a five-year term will provide greater administrative stability and enable elected heads of municipal corporations to implement long-term development plans effectively.

The House also approved the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Himachal Pradesh Amendment Bill, 2025. The amendment replaces the Chief Justice of the High Court with the Chief Secretary as Chairperson of the Selection Committee for the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). It also introduces a fixed, non-renewable four-year term for the Chairperson and Members of RERA, aimed at ensuring continuity and institutional clarity.