Zila Parishad Member Writes to Union Minister, Slams District Administration for Arbitrary Decision
Munish Sood
Mandi
The sudden shifting of the historic Shanan Post Office — a public institution that has served the region continuously since Independence — has sparked widespread anger among residents, with serious questions being raised over the role of the district administration and the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
The move has been strongly opposed by newly elected Zila Parishad member Vijay Kumar, who has written to Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, demanding immediate restoration of the post office at its original location.
According to the complaint, the post office was shifted without issuing any public notice, without consulting local residents, and without taking elected representatives into confidence. The decision is being described as arbitrary, opaque and completely against public interest.
Lifeline for Rural Population
For decades, the Shanan Post Office has functioned as a crucial public service centre for hundreds of families across Shanan and surrounding villages. It has been the primary access point for pension disbursement, savings schemes, postal banking, insurance services, money orders, and registered and speed post facilities.
The sudden closure has hit senior citizens, women, farmers, labourers, students and residents of remote villages the hardest, many of whom depend entirely on this post office for essential financial and communication services.
Deputy Commissioner Under Scanner
The district administration, particularly the office of the Deputy Commissioner, is now under the scanner for allowing a vital public institution to be shifted overnight without any social impact assessment or public consultation.
Local residents allege that no official order, justification or inspection report has been made public till date. They are demanding to know who authorised the move, on whose recommendation it was done, and what circumstances were cited to justify the decision.
The absence of transparency, locals say, reflects growing bureaucratic insensitivity towards rural needs and grassroots governance.
Demand for Immediate Restoration
In his letter to the Union Minister, Vijay Kumar has made three clear demands:
• Immediate restoration of the Shanan Post Office at its original location
• An independent inquiry into the decision-making process
• Mandatory public consultation before shifting or closing any public service institution in future
Copies Sent to Top Authorities
The representation has also been forwarded to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, the Secretary of the Department of Posts, the Director General (Posts), the Chief Postmaster General of Himachal Circle, the Postmaster General (Northern Region), the Superintendent of Post Offices, Mandi Division, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mandi.
Public Warning of Agitation
Villagers from Shanan and nearby areas have warned that if the post office is not restored immediately, they will launch a district-wide protest movement against what they describe as administrative high-handedness.
“This is not just about a building. It is about our right to basic public services,” said a local resident.
The issue is fast emerging as a major flashpoint in the district, exposing a widening gap between bureaucratic decision-making and the realities of rural Himachal.
