Munish Sood
Mandi
The ongoing standoff between the legal fraternity and the Himachal Pradesh government over restrictions and revised permit charges on Shimla’s sealed roads ended on Tuesday after a delegation of lawyers met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and presented their concerns. Following the meeting, the lawyers called off their protest, which had disrupted traffic in parts of the state capital for several hours.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of advocates marched from Oak Over to the State Secretariat and staged a demonstration outside the complex, demanding a direct audience with the Chief Minister. The protesters maintained that their agitation would continue until their grievances were heard at the highest level. The demonstration was marked by sloganeering and a road blockade, resulting in severe traffic congestion in the Secretariat and Chhota Shimla areas.
The controversy has gained further attention in recent days after challans issued to several vehicles, including that of Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, became a major talking point. Lawyers argued that traffic and access regulations must be enforced uniformly and transparently, irrespective of a person’s position or status.
What Is the Dispute?
The row stems from the state government’s decision, announced during the recent Budget Session, to sharply increase permit fees for vehicles entering Shimla’s sealed roads.
Under the revised policy:
- Annual permit fees have been increased from ₹2,500 to ₹10,000.
- Daily permit fees have been raised from ₹200 to ₹1,000.
- Processing charges have reportedly been enhanced from ₹100 to ₹10,000.
- Vehicles found using sealed roads without a valid permit can face a penalty of ₹10,000.
Advocates have strongly opposed the move, arguing that they use these routes on a daily basis to access the Himachal Pradesh High Court and other judicial institutions situated along the sealed road network. They contend that the new fee structure and restrictions will adversely affect their professional work and create unnecessary obstacles in the administration of justice.
The lawyers have demanded restoration of a more practical arrangement, similar to the earlier system, and have called for transparency, uniformity and fairness in the implementation of the rules.
Traffic Chaos Across the City
The protest led to significant traffic disruption across the city, with long queues of vehicles reported at several locations. The situation became particularly difficult during school closing hours, as large numbers of students were caught in the congestion. Office-goers, patients, tourists and other commuters also faced considerable inconvenience.
Additional police personnel were deployed to regulate traffic and maintain law and order as the protest continued outside the Secretariat.
The deadlock was eventually broken after the lawyers’ delegation held talks with the Chief Minister. Following the meeting, the advocates announced the withdrawal of their agitation, allowing traffic movement to gradually return to normal.
While the immediate protest has ended, the broader debate over access to Shimla’s sealed roads and the steep hike in permit charges is expected to remain a contentious issue in the coming days. Stakeholders are now awaiting the government’s response to the concerns raised by the legal community.
