TNR News Network
Shimla: The monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly began on Monday (August 18, 2025) with a total of 48 questions scheduled for discussion on the opening day. These include 38 starred and 10 unstarred questions, covering a range of pressing issues affecting the state.
The session commenced at 2 pm with an obituary reference for former MLA Ganesh Dutt Bharwal, who passed away on July 20. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led the House in paying tribute, highlighting Bharwal’s contributions to public life and service to the state. The House observed a moment of silence in his memory.
Following the condolence message, the House moved into the Question Hour, where legislators sought responses from the government on a variety of topics. Key issues raised include disaster management, relief and rehabilitation for flood-affected families, infrastructure damage, and the state’s preparedness to handle natural calamities during the ongoing monsoon.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur posed a question regarding recent amendments in the Revenue Department’s Relief Manual, signaling the opposition’s intent to scrutinise the government’s disaster response closely. A heated debate is anticipated around relief efforts and the pace of rehabilitation work in affected areas.
In all, the Assembly Secretariat has received 981 questions for the monsoon session. These include 793 starred questions, 188 unstarred questions and additional matters raised under Rules 62, 101, and 130. Thirteen notices have been submitted under Rule 62, six under Rule 101 and another 13 under Rule 130, indicating a packed and potentially contentious session ahead.
Besides disaster relief, other major issues likely to be taken up during the session include the merging of government schools, road and bridge construction, filling of vacancies in government departments, rising substance abuse among youth, and pending payments to state employees.
With public pressure mounting and several regions still reeling from monsoon damage, the session is expected to witness intense exchanges between the government and opposition benches in the coming days.
