SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has announced the appointment of former IAS officers RD Dhiman and Amit Kashyap as the Chairperson and Member of the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HP RERA), following criticism from the High Court regarding delays in these appointments and a penalty of ₹5 lakh imposed on the state government.
According to the notification from the Housing Department (No. HSG-A003/1/2024-L dated June 24, 2025), RD Dhiman has been designated as the Chairperson while Amit Kashyap has been appointed as a Member. These appointments are made under Section 20 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, based on the Selection Committee’s recommendations.
The tenure for both positions is set for five years or until the individual reaches the age of sixty-five, whichever comes first, commencing from the date they assume their roles, as outlined in the notification.
This order also releases Principal Secretary (Housing) Devesh Kumar, IAS, from his additional responsibility as Chairperson of HP RERA, which he held during the vacancy of a full-time appointee.
The appointments follow serious remarks from the Himachal Pradesh High Court earlier this month. The court expressed concern over the state’s considerable delay in filling key statutory posts within the real estate regulatory body, highlighting the importance of the authority in protecting homebuyers’ interests.
In a firm ruling, the High Court imposed a ₹5 lakh cost on the state for its “casual and insensitive approach” in establishing the RERA body, emphasizing that such delays not only contravene statutory requirements but also jeopardize public welfare. The court noted the repeated extensions given to former Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, pointing out that his role as the ex-officio Chairperson was only a temporary measure.
The RERA authority had been inactive for several months, leading to negative implications for real estate regulation and dispute resolution in the state. The High Court directed the government to swiftly progress the appointment process without any further delays.
These new appointments aim to restore the operational capacity of HP RERA and enhance the regulatory framework within Himachal Pradesh’s real estate sector.
