Himachal High Court stops work on 14- and 17-storey complex in Shimla, seeks state's explanation

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered work to stop on a 14-storey and a 17-storey commercial complex being built by the Housing Board on the uphill side of Vikas Nagar in Shimla, The Tribune reported on 17 October 2026.

Justice Sandeep Sharma found "sufficient reason to stop the work", noting that the construction appeared to violate the Shimla Development Plan.

The petition

The case was brought by the owner of a house in Vikas Nagar, next to the HP petrol pump, who said the construction put his home and neighbouring houses in "imminent danger". According to the report, the petitioner argues that the development plan caps buildings at four and a half storeys plus parking on the uphill side, and that hill cutting has sent muck and debris onto nearby homes.

The state's position

Advocate General Anup Rattan told the court that the Cabinet approved the project after considering reports from the School of Planning and Architecture and IIT-Tirupati, and that the Union environment ministry had approved tree felling.

What the court directed

• The state must file an affidavit explaining why permission was granted, especially on the uphill side, and whether enough has been done to ensure structural stability.
• The SDM, Shimla, is to visit the site and identify dangerous trees, which the Forest Department is to remove within 24 hours.
• Residents' safety and property are to be protected and access paths to their houses kept clear.

The report did not give the next hearing date.

Why it matters

Shimla's development plan sets strict limits on height and construction in the town. This case is a test of how those limits apply to government projects as well as private ones. Anyone buying or building in Shimla should check the development plan's zoning and height rules for the specific plot before committing money.