Himachal Pradesh Budget Session Day 1: Opp, Treasury benches spar over order of business; debate on RDG follows
Sukhu said his government prioritised relief over celebrations. “We did not hold celebrations but distributed relief material and provided Rs 8 lakh each to victims in Mandi for house construction,” he said, referring to Thakur’s home district.
The Treasury Benches and the Opposition clashed over the order of business, particularly the discussion on the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), on the first day of the Budget session on Monday. The government tabled a resolution under Rule 102 seeking a discussion on the impact of the discontinued RDG on the opening day.
The Leader of Opposition (LoP), Jai Ram Thakur, raised strong objections and argued that the customary Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address should have been taken up first. “There is a long custom and precedent when the budget sessions were started with the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s address.”
However, despite the objection, state Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania allowed the House to proceed with the resolution under Rule 102, citing it within the rules.
Parliamentary Affairs and Industry Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan defended the resolution and said, “The RDG is the most important issue in the state at present… Definitely, there will be a motion of thanks to the Governor’s address.”
LoP Thakur initiated the debate and alleged that the government was well aware in advance about the RDG discontinuation but failed to control expenditure. “The state is in a serious financial crisis… In the coming days, even salaries, pensions and GPF of employees could face stress. Indeed, it is the state government which will have to make decisions but don’t expect that the opposition will support all of your decisions…”
On other hand, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accused the previous BJP government of leaving behind a “huge debt burden”. He said the observations made by the Principal Secretary (Finance) reflected the true fiscal stress. The CM also said the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) would be implemented for government employees and there were no plans to privatise the state electricity board.
In his opening remarks, Thakur said the RDG had been discontinued for 17 states and not just Himachal. “Even Congress-ruled Karnataka had supported its discontinuation before the 16th Finance Commission. He further criticised the state for appointing CPSs despite fiscal stress, spending crores on related litigation before the High Court verdict against them, appointing around 90 government legal counsels in the Advocate General’s office and increasing honoraria of board chairpersons from Rs 30,000 to about Rs 1.30 lakh.”
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Responding to Thakur, Sukhu called these charges “baseless” and dismissed the BJP’s allegations that Rs 10 crore was spent to defend CPS appointments in court. The CM also said during the BJP tenure, there were 72 government counsels in the Advocate General’s office. While his government had rationalised responsibilities among Deputy and Assistant Advocate Generals, leading to legal successes, he said.
Sukhu said his government prioritised relief over celebrations. “We did not hold celebrations but distributed relief material and provided Rs 8 lakh each to victims in Mandi for house construction,” he said, referring to Thakur’s home district.
The resolution under Rule 102 said, “The state had been receiving Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) assistance under Articles 275 and 280 of the Constitution from the 5th to the 15th Finance Commissions. However, in accordance with the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, the central government has discontinued this grant from the coming financial year, creating conditions of financial stress in the state. In view of this, the House strongly recommends to the central government that the RDG earlier provided be restored in accordance with the state’s fiscal needs and revenue gap.”
Congress MLA from Theog and AICC spokesman Kuldeep Singh Rathore, and BJP MLA Randhir Sharma also participated in the debate. The debate on the resolution, which is still on, is expected to continue in the coming sittings.
Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting.
Professional Background
Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters.
Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India.
Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh:
1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth.
2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025).
3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025)
4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025)
Legal & Agricultural Affairs
"Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned.
"Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
3. Governance & Environment
"Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act.
"Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters.
Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc:
crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023)
Signature Beats
Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs.
X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar
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