Shimla Losing Its ‘Umbrella and Jacket’ Culture: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has observed that Shimla is gradually losing its distinctive “umbrella and jacket” culture and charm, and is beginning to resemble Mussoorie, where traffic is allowed on roads that were once restricted. The court remarked that Old Shimla is losing its appeal, which needs to be restored. These comments were made while hearing a public interest litigation concerning cleanliness and traffic management in the city.

Expanding the scope of the petition, a division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma directed the state’s Home Secretary to submit a detailed status report. The report is to include the number of permits issued for the sealed roads, the applicable rates, their purpose, and the categories of individuals to whom these permits were issued.

Additionally, the court instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Shimla to file a comprehensive report on the matter.

The petition was initially filed to highlight issues such as garbage accumulation, unsanitary conditions, and the absence of proper guidelines for two-wheeler parking on the road leading from ARTRAC to Ram Bazaar. Photographs presented in court showed garbage piled behind vehicles, extremely poor sanitation, and haphazard parking of both two-wheelers and cars blocking pedestrian pathways.

The bench noted that the problem was not limited to one area but extended across several restricted zones on Mall Road, particularly between Rock Sea Hotel and Willow Bank, where vehicles were being parked overnight under the guise of “drop-off passes.”

The court also pointed out that due to indiscriminate issuance of permits, there was heavy vehicular movement on the road from Shilli Chowk/Shimla Club to Chhota Shimla Chowk—despite it being declared a sealed road.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on October 10.