Commission to Review Himachal’s Administrative Map Within Six Months

A four‑member commission has been inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh to undertake a systematic review of the state's administrative boundaries. The notification issued by the General Administration Department on 14 October formalised the panel’s creation and set a six‑month deadline for its findings.

Presided over by retired Justice Dharm Chand Chaudhary, the commission also comprises Advocate Vishal Panwar, former IFS officer Rajesh Sharma and the Director of Land Records as secretary. Their headquarters will operate out of Shimla.

The body’s scope covers an exhaustive assessment of the current layout of districts, sub‑divisions, tehsils and development blocks. After studying population distribution, terrain difficulty, citizen access to government offices and administrative convenience, it will propose where new districts, sub‑divisions or tehsils may be warranted, as well as suggestions for merging or dividing existing units.

Financial considerations are integral to the analysis, with the commission required to gauge the cost impact on the state and recommend ways to achieve improved governance without undue expenditure. All relevant ministries have been directed to supply necessary data, maps and personnel to aid the inquiry.

With 12 districts presently, the demand for additional districts—especially in areas like Dehra Gopipur, Nurpur, Sundernagar, Palampur, Rohru and Ani—remains strong, driven by concerns over the arduous travel needed to reach district headquarters.