Civic body stakes claim over newly renovated town hall in Shimla

Shimla:The newly renovated town hall building at Mall Road in Shimla, which reportedly cost Rs 8 crore, has become the bone of contention between civic body and the state government. While the issue of its utilization is still pending before the high court, Shimla municipal corporation (MC) in its meeting held on Friday staked claim on the building, demanding its ownership back.Councillors threatened that if the building is not handed back to MC, they would fight a legal battle in the Supreme Court.
On Thursday, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur had inaugurated the building.
During the MC meeting held on Friday, councillor Shailender Chauhan had raised the issue. BJP, Congress and CPM councillors, cutting across party lines, supported his demand that town hall building should be handed back to the civic body.
A division bench of high court in its December 14, 2017, order had observed that decision must be taken with regard to proper use of the building after its restoration. “Perhaps it can be used for housing a library and other public conveniences, rather than leaving it at the mercy of the ‘babus’,” it had suggested.
Rakesh Sharma, deputy mayor, said that the building belongs to MC and only issue under the consideration of high court is regarding its public usage.
Shimla-based noted historian and author, Raja Bhasin, said that town hall is the identity of Shimla and should be preserved for future generation.