Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena underscored the urgent need for legal and systemic reforms to enhance court case management within the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD). Chairing a one-day workshop focused on capacity building and efficient legal handling, he urged officials to take personal responsibility for the court cases under their purview until they reach full resolution.
He emphasized that while a Cabinet Sub-Committee has already been constituted to address these issues, proactive engagement from officials remains vital. Highlighting the growing volume of litigation due to increased public awareness of legal rights, Saxena called for streamlined legal procedures and the exploration of legislative solutions to reduce delays and improve outcomes.
“Each case must be treated with seriousness and accountability. Arbitration is not the only solution—we need long-term legal strategies,” said Saxena, encouraging knowledge-sharing with other states to adopt effective practices. He also advised officers to stay alert to media-reported cases and ensure timely responses.
Welcoming the participants, Secretary, PWD, Dr. Abhishek Jain pointed out the significant legal liabilities facing the department. He noted that pending and resolved land acquisition cases could lead to financial burdens exceeding ₹1,000 crore. He stressed the need to avoid duplication of files and reduce compliance and administrative costs by improving procedural efficiency.
Principal Secretary (Law), Sharad Kumar Lagwal, emphasized the constitutional responsibility of the state to protect individual land rights and ensure legally sound acquisitions. Special Secretary PWD, Harbans Singh Brascon, presented key issues plaguing the department, such as construction on private land and incomplete revenue records. He revealed that around 1,600 legal cases remain pending across the state.
Advocate General Anup Rattan called for a centralized system for drafting court replies to ensure timely and consistent legal defense. He emphasized the need for departmental engineers to be familiar with the Arbitration Act and stressed the importance of reason-backed decisions in legal matters.
The post-lunch session included panel discussions featuring legal experts and senior department officials. Certificates of participation were distributed, and a vote of thanks was delivered by Engineer-in-Chief (Projects) Surinder Pal Jagota.
The workshop aimed to yield actionable strategies to reduce legal discrepancies, manage financial exposure, and improve institutional accountability within the HPPWD’s legal operations.
