Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday, 24 July 2026, personally heard complaints and grievances from citizens who had travelled from various parts of Uttarakhand, convening a dedicated public hearing at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan in the Chief Minister's Camp Office. He directed senior officials present to ensure time-bound, transparent, and sensitive resolution of every public complaint, so that ordinary citizens are not forced to make repeated visits to government offices.

Context

The session, held at the CM's Camp Office, brought together residents from across the state who carried unresolved grievances spanning administrative, civic, and law-and-order concerns. CM Dhami underscored that the state government operates on the twin principles of public welfare (janhit) and good governance (sushasan), stating that the swift resolution of people's problems is among the government's highest priorities.

Addressing officials, he said: 'It is the government's responsibility to live up to the expectations of the people of the state. Every officer must demonstrate complete sensitivity and accountability while working with a spirit of public service.' He stressed that citizens should not have to navigate bureaucratic delays for matters that can be resolved at the district or departmental level.

Policy Backdrop

Uttarakhand, since its formation in 2000, has maintained a tradition of CM-level public grievance hearings as a mechanism to bridge the gap between citizens and the administration. These sessions are part of a broader national effort to make governance more responsive and to reduce procedural bottlenecks that delay the delivery of services to common people.

The practice aligns with directives from multiple state and central government frameworks that mandate time-bound disposal of public complaints. CM Dhami, who has helmed the state since 2021, has repeatedly emphasised administrative reform and direct citizen engagement as cornerstones of his governance approach.

Stakeholders and Impact

Commissioner of Garhwal, Anand Swaroop, and Inspector General of Police (Garhwal), Rajeev Swaroop, were both present at the session and received specific directives from the Chief Minister to prioritise the disposal of grievances received. CM Dhami instructed that cases resolvable at the district or departmental level must be addressed immediately, while those requiring higher-level decisions should be forwarded promptly to the concerned departments for necessary action.

The direct beneficiaries are citizens from across Uttarakhand — particularly from the Garhwal region — who brought forward unresolved issues. By routing complaints through senior divisional and police administration officials in a single sitting, the process aims to compress resolution timelines significantly.

What's Next

The key measure of this session's effectiveness will be the actual disposal rate of grievances at the district and departmental levels in the days and weeks ahead. The CM's Office is expected to monitor follow-up action by Commissioner Anand Swaroop and IG Rajeev Swaroop to ensure that directives issued during the hearing translate into concrete outcomes for petitioners.

Should the administration demonstrate consistent, measurable improvement in grievance resolution, these sessions could be institutionalised at greater frequency — setting a benchmark for citizen-responsive governance in hill states across India.