Shimla, Sept 7: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has gone beyond judicial pronouncements to directly take part in relief efforts for families devastated by rains, landslides and cloudbursts, announcing the creation of a “Chief Justice Disaster Relief Fund 2025.”
Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, in a circular issued through the Registrar-General, appealed for voluntary contributions from judges, lawyers, and court officials across the state. The circular described the initiative as more than a routine request, calling it “a call of conscience.”
“This is not just a request; it is a call of conscience. Let us open our hearts and extend our helping hands to those who are struggling to rebuild their lives,” the Chief Justice said in the appeal. “Every single contribution small or large will be a step towards restoring hope and dignity for thousands who have lost everything.”
The relief work will be overseen by Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, the senior-most judge of the court and Executive Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority. He will coordinate with district-level legal services authorities to ensure aid reaches the worst-hit families.
The court has appointed the Registrar (Accounts) as the nodal officer to receive contributions. Disbursements will be made through the State Legal Services Authority to district units, which have been directed to identify specific spots for distribution. Para-legal volunteers and panel lawyers will also be mobilized to deliver cash and material aid, including clothes and utensils.
To streamline donations, the High Court has opened a savings account at UCO Bank, High Court Complex, Shimla, under the name “Chief Justice Disaster Relief Fund 2025.” The account number is 18330110060070 with IFSC Code UCBA0001833. UCO Bank has generated a QR code to make transfers easier.
The appeal has been extended to the entire judicial establishment of Himachal Pradesh. Judges of the High Court, the Advocate-General, Registrars, District and Sessions Judges, the Law Secretary, the Member-Secretary of the State Legal Services Authority, the Director of the Judicial Academy, the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, Bar associations at the High Court and district level, the Deputy Solicitor-General of India, and officers of the High Court Registry have all been asked to contribute.
The initiative stems from an order passed on September 4 by the Principal Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma, during a hearing in a public interest petition filed against the Union of India and others. The Bench noted that the court was in the process of organizing relief funds on the lines of 2023, when severe weather had displaced families and damaged infrastructure.
The relief initiative also draws support from the framework of the Legal Services Authorities Act, with Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority, guiding the overall approach. Legal services officers have been instructed to identify the most distressed families and areas for immediate assistance.
“This effort seeks to channel not just financial support but also solidarity,” the circular noted, adding that contributions, whether large or small, will help restore “hope and dignity” in communities that have suffered immeasurable loss.
