Solan's Chester Hills case: Himachal CS seeks report on inaction against promoters from RERA

Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta has sought a report from the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) over alleged inaction and lack of proper scrutiny in connection with violations in the Chester Hills housing project in Solan district. The allegations pertain to the period when two former bureaucrats headed RERA during the project’s development.

In a letter dated April 9, Gupta asked the RERA Chairman to submit a report within 15 days on the alleged failure to act against the promoters of the housing project while two former chief secretaries were heading the authority. He has also sought a report on social media posts highlighting alleged irregularities.

“In the interest of the allottees, please examine the matter and furnish a comprehensive factual report since hundreds of consumers have invested their life savings in this project and violation of any law at this belated stage would put their life savings in jeopardy,” Gupta wrote.

The Chief Secretary pointed out that a former RERA Chairman had praised the housing project, while during the tenure of the next Chief Secretary, no action was taken on a complaint. He has sought details of the alleged acts of willful inaction that helped in violation of the provisions of Section 118 of the Land Reform and Tenancy Act, 1971, and the Benami Act.

He has also sought RERA response on the alleged inaction by the present RERA Chief under Section 7 of the RERA Act, which further perpetuated illegalities. He has also questioned as to why proper scrutiny under Section 5 of the RERA Act was not made while granting registration to the promoters regarding land and agricultural status and their financial capability to undertake the project.

The Solan Deputy Commissioner is looking into the alleged violations in the Chester Hills housing project, with the BJP turning the matter into a major political issue.