Supreme Court asks States to file affidavits regarding constitution of Haj committees

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Synopsis

A former member of the Central Haj Committee moved a writ petition before Supreme Court alleging that the Centre and the States have not complied with the provisions of the Haj Committee Act, 2002.

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Abdul Nazeer and JK Maheshwari on Friday directed the States to file affidavits apprising it of the status of constitution of Haj committees in two weeks. The bench further directed the States to specify the names of committee members.

Court passed the above direction in a plea by a former member of Central Haj Committee, Hafiz Naushad Ahmed Azmi stating that Centre and the States have not complied with the provision of the Haj Committee Act, 2002 and have failed to appoint committees as per the legislation.

The plea further sought direction to the States to strictly follow the provisions of the 2002 Act in connection with proper utilisation of the Central and State Haj funds created under chapter IV of the Haj Act. 

It alleged that the Centre and States have failed to appoint Haj committees at the Central and State level which is resulting in a situation where the pilgrims are rendered orphans, with no one to take care of their interests.

Earlier, the court had issued notices to the Centre, External Affairs Ministry, Haj Committee of India, and others while directing them to file a reply within six weeks.

Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde submitted that many States have not filed compliance reports as per the orders of the court.

The court, on hearing his submissions, passed the above order.

Case title: Hafiz Naushad Ahmad Azmi Vs Union of India