TNR News Network
SHIMLA: In a significant development, the Himachal Pradesh State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered a case concerning the alleged illegal construction of a private super-specialty hospital in a space earmarked for parking at the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Tutikandi in Shimla.
The Vigilance Bureau has filed an FIR at the Shimla police station against M/s CK Infrastructure Limited, the proprietor of ‘Sparsh Super Specialty Hospital’, and other unknown individuals and officials. Given the nature of the offence, the case has been registered under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
The allegation is that M/s CK Infrastructure Limited unilaterally and illegally altered the approved use of the third floor of Block-B within the ISBT complex. According to the case, in March 2022, the company permitted the conversion of the area, marked for parking, into a private hospital without overcoming legal objections and without obtaining mandatory statutory approvals.
An agreement was reportedly signed between the proprietor of Sparsh Super Specialty Hospital and M/s CK Infrastructure Limited for this purpose. However, these changes were allegedly carried out without securing the necessary clearances from competent authorities.
This unauthorised conversion has had cascading effects. The absence of the designated parking facility has disrupted the smooth operation of the ISBT, causing significant inconvenience to the public. Furthermore, the state exchequer has suffered a financial loss and the private company is accused of having gained undue commercial benefits by violating the terms of its contract.
The Vigilance Bureau is also investigating the potential complicity of former officials from various departments who were in position at the time of the violation. Officials confirmed that several former officers are likely to be summoned for questioning in the coming days.
Notices ignored, hospital operations continued
Investigations reveal an alleged pattern of disregard for official procedures. The Board of Directors of the Himachal Pradesh Bus Stand Management & Development Authority (HPBSM&DA) had, in a meeting on March 22, 2022, approved the proposal conditionally, subject to obtaining statutory approvals, a condition that was never fulfilled.
Despite this, the hospital began operations. The Shimla Municipal Corporation repeatedly issued notices to the establishment in 2023 and 2024. Shockingly, even after the Principal Secretary (Town & Country Planning) conveyed his disapproval through letters dated February 29, 2024, and April 1, 2024, the unauthorised use of the premises as a hospital continued.
A preliminary inquiry has raised suspicions of possible collusion between the private entities and certain former public servants from the HPBSM&DA, Shimla Municipal Corporation and other related departments, prompting the current criminal probe.
