Bill Summary

The Himachal Pradesh Municipal Services (Amendment Bill), 2023

• The Himachal Pradesh Municipal Services (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on September 21, 2023.  It seeks to amend the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Services Act, 1994.   The Bill replaces the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Services (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, which was promulgated on August 17, 2023.  The Act provides for a state-level services of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats for certain posts.  The Bill makes similar provisions for employees of Municipal Corporations. 

• State-level services comprising posts of Municipal Corporations:  The Act establishes state-level services comprising posts in Nagar Panchayats and Municipal Councils.  On similar lines, the Bill establishes state-level services for various posts under Municipal Corporations.  These include: (i) Executive Engineer, (ii) Secretary, (iii) Personal Assistant, (iv) Statistical Assistant, (iv) Data Entry Operator, and (v) Health Worker.  The state government may alter the list of posts for which state-level services may be established through a notification.

• Integration of existing employees:  In case of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats, the Act provides that existing regular employee will be integrated into the state-level services to be established.  On similar lines, the Bill provides for integration of existing regular employees of Municipal Corporations into state-level services to be established under the Bill.

• Powers to take over employees of municipal bodies:  The Act empowers the state government to take over certain classes of employees working in Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats, if it is necessary or expedient.  These include: (i) Health Officer, (ii) Forest Guard, and (iii) Tax Inspector.  The individuals taken over will become employees of the state government.  They will be entitled to the same remuneration and rules applicable to state government employees.  The Bill also grants these powers for certain classes of employees of Municipal Corporations.  These include: (i) Architect Planner, (ii) Veterinary Public Health Officer, and (iii) Kanungo (Land Record Officer).  The state government may alter the classes of employees that may be taken over through a notification.