Shimla Ice Skating Rink moves HC against letter of state, Court directs Director of tourism to appear personely

Hundred years old Ice-skating Rink knocked the door of Himachal Pradesh High court got stay over the two letters of state government and Department of Sports and Youth Services. The matter was listed before the Division bench of justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and justice Verinder Singh to stay the proceedings of DS&YS on Monday. Court granted stay on the two letters sent to it by the state on August 8, and September 3, 2022 blaming the club to indulged unauthorised construction. On Monday court ordered the Shimla MC to remove the vehicles parked in the ICE skating rink which was compiled by 2 pm during the court hearing. latter court fixed the hearing in the petition till September 14, 2022 impleading Shimla MC and Department of Tourism as necessary party in the matter. Court also  directed Shimla MC to apprise the  Court   regarding the  kind  of  material  that   has been stacked inside the Shimla Ice Skating Rink by tomorrow. The Director, Tourism shall personally appear before this Court.  Court also directed that both parties to not park vehicle in the Ice skating courts permises. Three page order passed by the court stated that during the hearing it is made clear that henceforth, no vehicle of any kind shall be parked inside the Shimla Ice Skating Rink.  Shimla Ice Skating Club which owns and operate the entire operation of historical hundreds years old club has challenged the operation of impugned letters issued by state government inconvenience with department of sports and youth services of dated 16.8.2022  and  3.9.2022 is ordered to be stayed by the court. Court also allowed the application of Club with subject to the condition that the petitioner shall file the translated copies of documents annexed with the petition within four weeks of issuing this order. 

It worthwhile to mention that State government has recently devised a plan to convert Shimla Ice Skating Rink into Artificial Ice-skating Rink developing multistorey complex on the present place. Shimla Ice Skating Rink also built some stalls in the Rink and allowed to parked vehicle in the part of complex which was objected by the courts. There is also proposal by Shimla MC and tourism department to buit a Elevators or lift from Lakkar Bazar Bus stop to Ridge. Now matter is likely to be taken a new legal battle on this facility which is heritage property but looked after shably and equally ruined by the Shimla MC. A huge piles of muck and garbage- debries are being kept in the place. There is not proper water drainage in the Rink and grass is growing in the ground. An eatry was also set in the Complex alo g with number of stalls. Recently Tourism Department appointed a consultant to plan the modernization of Rink report of which is being pending with department under a centre Goverment flagship Bharat Darshan Scheme. There is reported that successive study conducted in the Complex recommend that this place is not suitable for further construction following heavy water discharge in the vaciniity and place is built up on the dumping muck by the Britishers.