IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.631 of 2018 Decided on: 10.08.2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Devinder Kasta …..Petitioner Versus State of HP & Ors. ....Respondents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioner: Mr. Shrawan Dogra, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Tejasvi Dogra, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. L.N.Sharma, Additional Advocate General. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge On 09.03.2017, Superintendent of Police, Shimla had ordered opening of a temporary Police Picket at Maraog under Police Station, Chopal with strength of 1 (Head Constable) and 4 (Constables). The order was implemented. The Police Picket at Maraog became functional. Vide Annexure P-2 dated 03.10.2017, Government conveyed its approval for creating one post of Assistant Sub Inspector, One post of Head Constable 1Whether reporters of print and electronic media may be allowed to see the order? Yes. 2 and four posts of Constables i.e. in all six posts for Police Post at Maraog. 2. Petitioner’s grievance is to the notification issued on 27.02.2018 (Annexure P-3) , whereby, the previous order of opening the Police Post at Maraog was reviewed and it was de-notified. Vide interim order dated 17.03.2018 passed in this writ petition, operation of the impugned notification dated 27.02.2018 (Annexure P-3) and corrigendum dated 20.03.2018 (Annexure P-4) qua the Police Post at Maraog, Shimla were ordered to be stayed. 3. The respondents filed reply to the petition on 06.12.2019. In terms of the reply, decision to de-notify creation of Police Post at Maraog was taken by the Government after considering negligible number of complaints in previous years from the concerned area/panchayat. As per reply, opening of Police Post was not in terms of prescribed norms, as such, the matter was placed before the Cabinet for reconsideration; After careful reconsideration, the Cabinet decided to de-notify creation of Police Post, Maraog; The same was accordingly de-notified on 27.02.2018. 4. The matter appeared for consideration on 3 14.07.2026 when, the respondents were directed to place on record fresh instructions / status report. Pursuant to this, respondents No. 1 to 4, through respondent No. 3 i.e. Superintendent of Police, Shimla, have filed fresh status report on 29.07.2026. In terms of the fresh status report, number of cases have been registered within the jurisdiction of temporary Police Picket at Maraog during years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 as also in the year 2026. The fresh status report of the Police Department itself records there being necessity of constant police presence in the area for verification of migrant labourers, to maintain law and order and also to prevent any untoward incident. As per the fresh affidavit, due to narrow roads in the region, traffic management is also a major challenge for the police authorities; That temporary Police Picket, Maraog is located approximately 26 K.Ms. away from Police Station Chopal, District Shimla, which is a snow-bound region, and covers Gram Panchayats Maraog, Makdog and Matal; As per Census of the year 2011, total 109 villages, comprising of approximately 4,881 people, having area of about 7,472 hectares, fall under the jurisdiction of temporary Police Picket, Maraog, Tehsil Chopal, District Shimla. In view of the status report/affidavit dated 4 29.07.2026, which favours the case of the petitioner for having a Police Picket Maraog, it is deemed appropriate to dispose of this writ petition with direction to respondent No. 1 to 3 / Competent Authority to reconsider the matter of de-notifying Police Picket Maraog under impugned notification dated 27.02.2018, more so in light of the fact that posts for the Police Post Maraog had already been created vide Annexure P-2 dated 03.10.2017, and the latest status report filed by the respondents, not only pleads necessity of maintaining constant police presence in the area, but also gives the number of FIRs that have been registered at the said police post in last 5 years. Fresh decision be taken within eight weeks. Till such time, the interim order dated 27.2.2018 shall remain in force. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, also to stand disposed of. Jyotsna Rewal Dua August 10, 2026 Judge R.Atal