The Government of Himachal Pradesh, December 01, 2025, enacted the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Act, 2023, to revise specific governance and procedural provisions of the 1986 principal Act. The amendment updates definitions and reinforces the role of the State Government in key university appointments.
The Act inserts the words “the Rules,” in section 2(u) of the principal Act, ensuring that definitions reference rules framed under the Act. Section 23 is amended to provide that the Chancellor shall act on the aid and advice of the Government, thereby formalising governmental oversight. Section 24 is significantly revised: the Vice-Chancellor is confirmed as a whole-time officer appointed by the Chancellor on the advice of the Government, and sub-section (2) stands omitted.
A new section, 55-A, authorises the State Government to make rules via notification in the Himachal Pradesh e-Gazette, subject to mandatory legislative scrutiny. Any such rules must be placed before the Legislative Assembly for at least ten days and may be modified or annulled without affecting prior lawful actions.
[Notification No. 46 of 2025]
