Himachal Pradesh's Revenue Department is reviewing over 300 cases of violations under Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act—which restricts agricultural land sales to non-agriculturists without government approval—from January 2023 to January 2026. This includes the ongoing Chester Hills housing project controversy in Solan. Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has directed districts for status reports, with official data showing 849 of 2,354 applications still pending.
The cases span real estate, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects where non-agriculturists sought land approvals. Deputy commissioners have been asked to report on pending and approved cases, though some districts cited delays due to Panchayati Raj elections.
Minister Jagat Singh Negi stated, “We have conveyed to all deputy commissioners to apprise us about the current status of these cases.” Assembly data indicates 2,354 applications received, with 1,494 approved, 12 rejected, and 849 pending.
The Chester Hills project in Solan, previously probed for indirect sales to outsiders (as covered in earlier reports), has seen further escalation. On April 9, 2026, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta wrote to RERA chairperson R D Dhiman seeking a factual report on alleged inaction over Section 118 issues, prompting RERA's defense of its approvals.
