New Delhi: Rajesh Kumar has been a regular at Himachal Bhawan near Mandi House in Delhi for 35 years, drawn by its homely and affordable meals, Fabindia sales, and fresh apple juice. Conveniently located near a metro station in the heart of New Delhi, the Bhawan became a favourite hangout for him and his friends after a day at the office.
It has remained a cherished meeting spot for them, even in retirement, though Kumar acknowledges its declining standards.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court Monday ordered the attachment and potential auction of the sprawling state bhawan—built on residential land once owned by the last king of Mandi, Sri Joginder Singh Bahadur—over a 2017 case of unpaid dues to the company Moser Baer.
Moser Baer had secured the mandate to build the Silo Hydro project in Ladakh’s Lahaul-Spiti, paying Rs 64 crore upfront for the bid. However, the project never took off and Moser Baer withdrew from it in 2017. Since then, the state government has failed to refund the amount. In January 2023, the court ruled in favour of Moser Baer, directing the state to repay Rs 64 crore with 7 percent interest. With the Himachal government failing to clear the dues, which have now grown to approximately Rs 150 crore, the court has attached Himachal Bhawan, allowing for a possible auction if the payment is not made.
“This is a state Bhawan. It is a public property. How can this be auctioned off?” asked Kumar, who is in his late 60s, standing outside the Himachal Bhawan on a smog-laden evening in Delhi Tuesday.
But he was also quick to add, “Well, anyway, this place is losing its charm rapidly. The canteen frequently runs out of things to eat and is becoming expensive by the day. Who cares? Bech do! (sell it off),” he said to ThePrint.
The order by a single-judge bench doesn’t explain why Himachal Bhawan was chosen as the asset to be attached in the case. However, sources in the government say it is because of the ‘prestige’ of the bhawan.
“There’s no other reason but the prestige of Mandi house Himachal Bhawan that the court has decided to attach the building to the case. We will appeal this in front of a two-judge bench,” the source said.
Himachal Pradesh also has a state bhawan in Chanakyapuri, where the chief minister stays during visits to Delhi. However, the Himachal Bhawan at Mandi House is considered iconic due to its central location and remains a preferred stay for visiting dignitaries from the Himachal government.
Wearing a T-shirt with the words ‘Ek rahenge to safe rahenge’ (united we are safe) on it, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla staged a one-man protest at Mandi house.
“Congress khud neelaam hote hote ab Himachal Bhawan ko neelaam kar raha hai (Congress is auctioning itself, and along with it the Himachal Bhawan)”—a white board held by a man standing next to him said.
“We need a white paper on Rahul Gandhi’s khatakhat economics. They promised free electricity, Rs 1,500 and water to people of Himachal Pradesh. And now they’re taxing toilets. For the first time, a government building will be auctioned off and attached because the government cannot clear its dues…this shows the government has taken Himachal Pradesh to a new level of bankruptcy,” he told ThePrint.
Himachal Bhawan continues to bustle with activity
Meanwhile, inside Himachal Bhawan, it was business as usual. At the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) stall, visitors sipped on fresh apple juice and stocked up on fresh produce to take home. The vendor at the stall appeared unfazed by the news of the Bhawan’s potential auction.
“You really think this place will be auctioned off?” he laughed.
“These things happen…but nobody will auction off Himachal Bhawan,” he added, his attention more on the steady stream of customers drawn by the heightened buzz around the iconic Bhawan.
Inside the bhawan, a perpetual sale, including by Fabindia, draws crowds with flat 50 percent off on everything, from clothes and cutlery to jewellery and lingerie. Despite the steep discounts, shoppers in the bustling market attempt to bargain.
One of the Bhawan’s most popular features is its canteen, known for serving affordable, authentic Himachali food. In need of repairs and renovation, the canteen looked dated, resembling an old tourist bus stop, but its food still draws a steady crowd.
Ayaz, who was managing the sale, discouraged customers from haggling. He and his team have been organizing sales at Himachal Bhawan since 2020, although the market has been part of the Bhawan for nearly 20 years. When asked about the rent they pay or the authenticity of their products, Ayaz refused to provide any details.
Outside Himachal Bhawan, buses lined up, ready to depart for the hilly state. The Bhawan also houses a tourism department where visitors can book tours to Himachal. Additionally, a state-approved government shop sells traditional woolen clothes, sweaters, and hats.
ThePrint visited during work hours but was unable to meet Assistant General Manager of Tourism, Navdeep Singh Thapa. His team informed ThePrint that he was visiting the trade fair at Bharat Mandapam and had declined to speak with us.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)