HPCA episode: Court asks Himachal to file reply in three weeks

Dharamsala: Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the state to file its objections to the revision petitions of the state cricket body and its president, pleading to make chief minister Virbhadra Singh and three government officials party in a land row case. Hearing the petitions of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and its president Anurag Thakur, a division bench of acting chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Kuldip Singh asked the state to file objections within three weeks.
One of the petitioners has sought the inclusion of deputy inspector general of police Sanjay Kumar, Kangra deputy commissioner C. Paulrasu and superintendent of police Balbir Thakur as respondents. The petitioners alleged that the entire government machinery under the influence of the chief minister, in a midnight swoop on Oct 26, forcibly evicted the HPCA from its stadia, principally the picturesque Dharamsala stadium.
Advocate General Sharvan Dogra informed the court that the writ has become infructuous as the government has withdrawn its earlier order of cancellation of the land leases of the HPCA.
The court will now hear the matter Dec 19.