The Himachal Pradesh High Court has set up a disaster relief fund for the damage caused by heavy rains, cloudbursts, and landslides across Himachal Pradesh.

“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. Every single contribution, small or large, will be a step towards restoring hope and dignity for thousands who have lost everything.”

The Court observed that the state of Himachal Pradesh is passing through an extraordinary

Tragedy due to the relentless rains, cloudburst, and landslides that have taken place in the recent days.

It has led to huge devastation, loss, despair and destruction. The Court further noted that a few families have been displaced in some districts, homes have vanished, and livelihoods have been shattered. Thus, the Court remarked that at this moment our State needs us more than ever before.

The initiative was taken after a September 4 order by the Division Bench of Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma passed an order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation, which directed for measures to be taken to provide relief to the victims of the disaster.

In compliance, Chief Justice Sandhawalia has set up a dedicated relief fund with a savings account at UCO Bank, High Court Complex, Shimla for collection of voluntary donations.The account – Chief Justice Disaster Relief Fund 2025 – bears Account No. 18330110060070 with IFSC Code UCBA0001833. For the ease of contributors, UCO Bank has also generated a QR code to enable direct transfers.

To manage the cash amount, the Registrar (Accounts), High Court of Himachal Pradesh has been appointed as Nodal Officer and the for the disbursement of funds Member Secretary, State Legal

Services Authority to Secretaries of the District Legal Services Authority in each 'District have been appointed who will identify the areas and persons badly affected.

Along with it, all the  Secretaries, District Legal Services Authorities are requested to identify certain spots in their respective Districts for distribution of relief amount from whatever amount is collected by way of voluntary donations in the form of cash/clothes/utensils etc. from all concerned and by engaging and deploying Para Legal Volunteers and panel lawyers.

The relief work will be coordinated by Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, the senior most judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court who is currently the head of the  State Legal Services Authority as its Executive Chairman.

The Court has appealed to Judges of the High Court, the Advocate General, Registrars, District and Sessions Judges, Judicial Officers, the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, Bar Associations, the Deputy Solicitor General of India, as well as officers and officials of the judiciary to make voluntary contributions. Citizens and organizations across the State have also been urged to extend support.

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