SHIMLA-15 March, 2026

Judicial system must work like hospitals: Chief Justice of India

• Lays foundation stone for Mandi Judicial Court Complex costing Rs. 152 Crore
• Govt working towards ensuring inclusive development and social justice: CM

Chief Justice of India Justice Sh. Surya Kant today laid the foundation stone of the Mandi Judicial Court Complex, to be constructed at a cost of Rs.152 crore in the presence of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The state-of-the-art court complex would be built on 9.6 hectares of land and would have four blocks, providing better facilities for judges, lawyers and the public.

On the occasion while addressing a legal literacy camp, Justice Sh. Surya Kant said that judicial complexes need to function like hospitals. He said people go to hospitals with hope and the judicial system should also work with the same spirit of service. People come to courts with the expectation of relief and justice. He said that with increasing facilities, the responsibility of the judicial system was also increasing.

He said that Mandi is also known as Chhoti Kashi, where millions of people visit with great devotion. He said that today the foundation of a temple of justice is being laid at this place, which will soon be completed.

He said that today’s gathering was very important, everyone talks about fundamental rights, but fundamental duties are also an integral part of the Constitution and should be followed. He said that Himachal Pradesh has preserved its natural beauty, therefore it is necessary to make people aware of their fundamental rights. He said similar programmes should be organised even at the grassroots level so that awareness about fundamental duties can increase.

Justice Sh. Surya Kant said that the love and respect of the people has brought him to Himachal Pradesh again and he feels honoured by their affection.

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu welcomed Justice Sh. Surya Kant to Himachal Pradesh and invited him to visit the state again. In his address, he said that ensuring access to justice and rights for every citizen of the state is the commitment of the government. He said the government is working towards inclusive development and social justice in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.

He said that through education, healthcare, social security and transparent administration, the government is ensuring that every citizen gets equal opportunities and that the roots of democracy become stronger. He said that the government has adopted about 6,000 orphaned children as “Children of the State”, for which the first law of its kind in the country has been enacted. He said that the legal age of marriage for girls has been increased to 21 years so that they can have rights and opportunities equal to boys. Giving equal rights to daughters, the government has provided them equal rights in ancestral property up to 150 bighas, which earlier was limited only to sons.

To ensure the education of the children of widowed women, the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana has been started, under which the state government is bearing the cost of their education. He said that by organizing revenue Lok Adalats, the government has resolved about 5.5 lakh pending cases which had been pending for several years.

Sh. Sukhu said that the Constitution is not merely a legal document but a symbol of the nation’s core ideals, values and aspirations. He said that the contribution of B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, will always be remembered, as he led the drafting of the Constitution and ensured that India’s democracy is based on the principles of equality, justice and liberty. He said that along with fundamental rights, fundamental duties are equally important. If we wish to enjoy our rights, we must perform our duties with sincerity.

He said that the Revenue Deficit Grant that Himachal Pradesh received as its constitutional right has now been discontinued, which is a major challenge for the financial condition of the state. This grant was being given to Himachal Pradesh under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, and under the arrangement that began in 1952 the state had been receiving this grant continuously for the past 73 years.

Chief Justice of HP High Court Justice Sh. Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia said that today’s discussion is the result of collective efforts to ensure that justice reaches every individual. He said that justice is not limited only to courtrooms but also includes awareness of rights, access to legal aid and providing timely assistance.

High Court Judge Sh. Vivek Thakur said that after the country’s independence more emphasis was placed on fundamental rights. He said that if we perform our fundamental duties, the protection of fundamental rights automatically follows.

High Court Judge Sh. Ajay Mohan Goel welcomed the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Minister and all dignitaries present at the programme. He said that the long-standing demand for a new judicial complex in Mandi has now been fulfilled and it will become one of the best complexes in the country.

High Court Judge Sh. Sandeep Sharma presented the vote of thanks.

On this occasion, judges of the Himachal Pradesh High Court including Smt. Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Sh. Sushil Kukreja, Sh. Virender Singh, Sh. Ranjan Sharma, Sh. Bipin Chander Negi, Sh. Rakesh Kainthla, Sh. Jia Lal Bhardwaj and Sh. Romesh Verma were present.

Chief Minister’s political advisor Sh. Sunil Sharma, Advocate General Sh. Anup Rattan, former CPS Sh. Sohan Singh Thakur, District Congress President Smt. Champa Thakur, Chairman of the SC/ST Development Corporation Sh. Lal Singh Kaushal, Vice-Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Water Management Board Sh. Shashi Sharma, Congress leader Sh. Jagdish Reddy, Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Ashish Singhmar, DC Sh. Apoorv Devgan, SP Sh. Vinod Kumar, along with judicial officers and office bearers and members of the Mandi District Bar Association and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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Feature-Himachal Govt. strengthens green energy push with 2534 million unit power generation from major projects

• Generates revenue of Rs. 1004 crore from renewable energy projects

SHIMLA,15.03.2026-Himachal Pradesh, blessed with vast rivers, mountains and natural resources, has long been known as one of India’s major hydropower states. Today, the state is moving a step further by rapidly expanding clean and renewable energy in multiple directions. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the government has intensified efforts to strengthen energy generation, diversify renewable sources and ensure that the benefits of green energy reach both the economy and local communities. Through solar expansion, hydropower generation, innovative green technologies and community-based initiatives, the state is steadily advancing towards its goal of becoming a leading green energy state while generating over 2,534 million units of electricity and earning more than Rs.1,004 crore in revenue from major renewable projects.

The state government has set a target of installing 500 megawatts of solar power capacity within two years. Several solar projects in Una and Bilaspur districts, including the Pekhubela, Bhanjal, Aghlor and Baira Dol projects with a combined capacity of 52 MW, have together generated about 114.27 million units of electricity and more than Rs. 34.83 crore in revenue. These projects represent an important step in strengthening solar power generation in the state.

Hydropower continues to remain the backbone of the state’s renewable energy sector and plays a crucial role in supporting the economy. Major projects such as the 100 MW Sainj Hydroelectric Project in Kullu district, the 65 MW Kashang Stage-I Project in Kinnaur district and the 111 MW Sawra-Kuddu Project in Shimla district have together generated around 2,419.97 million units of electricity and nearly Rs. 969.95 crore in revenue. In addition, the completion of 13 hydropower projects has added 1,229 MW of power generation capacity, further strengthening the state’s energy infrastructure.

Along with expanding hydropower, the government is also embracing emerging clean energy technologies. A one MW Green Hydrogen Energy Plant is being developed in Nalagarh in Solan district, marking a step toward future-oriented energy solutions. Another initiative is the launch of India’s first state-supported biochar programme, under which a biochar plant will be established in Neri in Hamirpur district to support climate and sustainability efforts.

The government has also introduced measures to encourage investment in solar energy. Under a first-come-first-served scheme, solar projects ranging from 250 kilowatts to 5 megawatts are being allotted to investors, and the electricity generated from these projects will be purchased by the HP State Electricity Board Limited. So far, 547 investors have been allotted ground-mounted solar power projects with a total capacity of 595.97 MW. In addition, through HIMURJA, solar projects with a capacity of 728.4 MW have been allocated to the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, of which projects with a capacity of 150.13 MW have already been initiated.

Ensuring reliable electricity supply in remote and tribal regions has also been a priority. Solar off-grid systems have been installed in 148 households in high-altitude villages of the Kaza region of Lahaul-Spiti district. Battery energy storage systems of 400 Kilowatts are also being installed in Hillor and Dharbas villages of Pangi Valley to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in tribal areas.

At the grassroots level, the state government has launched the Green Panchayat Programme, which places rural communities at the centre of the renewable energy transition. Under this initiative, 500 kilowatt ground-mounted solar power plants will be installed in gram panchayats across the state with a target of generating 150 MW of solar power. In the first phase, projects have been approved in 24 panchayats and work has begun in 16 of them. Twenty percent of the revenue generated from these projects will be used to provide financial support to orphans and widows in the respective panchayats, ensuring that green energy development also contributes to social welfare.

The government has also taken steps to support communities affected by hydropower development and has released financial assistance of Rs. 25.25 crore to provide relief to families and areas impacted by such projects. Policy reforms have also been introduced to encourage investment in small hydropower projects by reducing the royalty rate of free electricity received by the state from projects up to 25 MW from 18-30 percent to 12 percent.

Another major achievement has been the state’s legal victory in the Karcham-Wangtoo hydropower royalty case. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Himachal Pradesh and directed JSW Energy to increase the royalty paid to the state from 12 percent to 18 percent for the 1,045 MW project. This decision is expected to generate nearly Rs. 150 crore in additional annual revenue for the state.

With annual electricity consumption in the state currently estimated at around 13,000 million units, demand for energy is expected to grow further as industries expand and electric mobility gains momentum. Recognizing this future demand, the state government has set a goal of meeting more than 90 percent of its energy requirements through renewable sources. By strengthening hydropower generation, expanding solar capacity and exploring new technologies such as green hydrogen and biochar, the state is steadily positioning itself at the forefront of India’s clean energy transition.