Himachal Vidhan Sabha goes digital with NeVA amid heated corruption debate

Dharamshala, December 18, 2024: The winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly began on a dramatic note at Tapovan  at Dharamsala on Tuesday, with the BJP raising allegations of corruption through an adjournment motion under Rule 67. The motion, moved before the commencement of the Question Hour, was approved by Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania with the consent of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.

The discussion on alleged corruption over the last two years witnessed participation from more than two dozen members from both the ruling party and the opposition. The proceedings were marked by heated exchanges between Chief Minister Sukhu and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, culminating in a series of allegations and counter-allegations.

During the debate, Chief Minister Sukhu criticized Jairam Thakur, accusing him of not grasping the gravity of the issue under discussion. Despite Jairam Thakur’s temporary absence to attend a BJP rally, Sukhu reiterated his accusations. The debate, which continued throughout the day, saw opposition MLAs Randhir Sharma, Balbir Verma, and Surendra Shourie raise pointed concerns about the government’s tenure, supported by participation from members on both sides. The discussion is set to continue on Wednesday, with the Chief Minister expected to respond on Thursday.

On the other side of the session ,in a significant milestone, the first day of the session also marked the launch of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) under the chairmanship of Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania. Himachal Pradesh, which had pioneered the e-Vidhan system in 2014 during the tenure of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail, has now transitioned to NeVA, a centrally-sponsored initiative aimed at modernizing legislative proceedings.

The Assembly Speaker highlighted the achievements of the e-Vidhan system, which had made proceedings paperless, saving substantial resources. He further explained that NeVA would enhance transparency by allowing live online access to Vidhan Sabha proceedings. The central government has allocated ₹8.13 crore for the project.

Chief Minister Sukhu and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur both lauded the new system. Sukhu emphasized that the switch to NeVA underscores Himachal’s commitment to embracing technological advancements, while Thakur thanked the central government for its support and stressed the importance of keeping pace with evolving technology.