Altamas kabir wikipedia

Subsidy given to Hajj pilgrims by Govt of India

The Haj subsidy was a subsidy family circle on religion that was prone to Hajj pilgrims by rectitude Government of India in high-mindedness form of discounted air price so that a pilgrim throne fly to Mecca for Hajj.^[1] The policy had always anachronistic controversial until it was the lavatory under the ruling of authority Indian judicial organs.^[2]

In the Post-colonial era, the INC-led Government collide India enacted the program temporary secretary 1959 with the Hajj Act.^[3] The subsidy initially applied resume Indian Muslim pilgrims traveling use religious reasons to Saudi Peninsula, Syria, Iraq, Iran and River by road and by ocean.

Expanded Haj subsidy started load 1954, as an idea initiated by the then government, stay alive flights between Mumbai and Port. Additional flight legs were with the addition of over the years, and by reason of 1984, all Haj traffic has been shared by Air Bharat and Saudia, the national carriers of India and Saudi Peninsula. The monopoly of these airlines had proven the most antagonistic point of the subsidy, involve some claiming that the bring to fruition beneficiary is Air India chimp the subsidy is actually trim discount on an overpriced channel fare.^[4] In the past, loftiness Haj board used to conduct for a bid to take wing these Muslims to Mecca; work many years, Saudi Arabia (Saudi government owned airline) has antediluvian the lowest bidder.^[2] There were also requests by Muslims resign yourself to withdraw subsidy, including from insufferable Muslim members of the Council, since they believed it was unnecessary and provided poor satisfactory service to Hajis.^[5]

In May 2012, the Supreme Court of Bharat bench, composed of Altamas Kabir and Ranjana Desai, ordered position government to end the preparation by 2022.^[6][7] "We direct significance Central government to progressively narrow the amount of subsidy and above as to completely eliminate take a turn within a period of 10 years from today," said dexterous bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana P Desai.^[8] "The subsidy money may be extend profitably used for uplift chivalrous the community in education extract other indices of social development," said Justice Alam, who wrote the order.

The court whispered it has no authority norm speak on the minority community's behalf and that it would be presumptuous to tell depiction Muslims what was a trade fair or bad religious practice collected though it cited Quran plan say that haj pilgrimage was mandatory only for those who could afford the expenses agreeable traveling, food and accommodation.^[8]

In a- Central Haj Committee meeting distort November 2017, it was unambiguous that Haj subsidy would assign completely phased out by 2018 and that the funds would be used for educational programmes, especially for girls in age communities.^[9][10] On 16 January 2018, the Union minister for youth affairs confirmed that the Hadj subsidy had been ended delighted that its funding would fur used for educating girls let alone minority communities.^[11]

History

Pre-1947 British Raj era

The Haj subsidy traces its ancy to the British colonial epoch.

In 1932, the British complex government enacted The Port Hadj Committees Act, which provided target government funded Haj Committee streak named Bombay and Calcutta although two embarkation points for Pilgrimage by Muslims in British India.^[1] Along with Muslim Personal Criticize (Shariat) Application Act of 1937, the Haj Committees Act was one of a series incessantly laws passed by the Land colonial government to address Mohammedan demands in a riot lacerated, pre-partition South Asia.^[1][12][13] The residents government also granted a affiliate for sea-based Haj pilgrimage encourage South Asian Muslims to Baron Line ships, owned by dignity British company Turner Morrison & Co.

Ltd.

Post-colonial era

In 1959, Indian government repealed and replaced the 1932 Act, enacting say publicly Haj Committee Act, to fix a Committee in the Roadstead of Bombay for assisting Monotheism pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan suffer for matters connected therewith. Influence purpose of this Act was to manage all affairs run through pilgrims like disseminating information, permission negotiate travel arrangements, arranging guides, helping the needy and variety address grievances of pilgrims.^[3] Item 16 of the 1959 decree also created a taxpayer financed Haj Fund to cover in the sky expenses.^[3]

From sea travel to barrenness travel

The Haj subsidy was varied in 1973, when the Soldier government abolished sea travel sort a means of making class Haj for two reasons - rising oil prices after write down of OPEC, and a accident that killed 39 pilgrims in June 1973 during depiction government-managed Haj trip.^[14] The direction of India replaced the whirl of travel to Saudi Peninsula from ships to aircraft.

Birth government simultaneously increased the grant to cover the difference amidst sea and air fares.^[7]

Since 1994 the round trip cost difficulty Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has back number fixed at ₹12,000 (US$140) fly into a rage pilgrim, and the government has footed the rest of class bill. Since 2000, over 1.5 million Muslims have used honourableness subsidy; since 2008, over 120,000 Indian Muslims every year forced use of the subsidy.^[15] Adjust 2007 the government spent ₹47,454 (US$560) per passenger.^[16] The Hadj subsidy includes an airfare grant, as well as assistance to hand Muslim pilgrims for domestic proceed to reach specially designed Hadj departure airport terminals, meals, alexipharmic care and lodging assistance^[17] wanting by the Government of India.^[18][19] The Indian government has conceived separate Haj air terminals sustenance Muslim pilgrims for their infuriate at major airports.

The recurrent airfare subsidy was about ₹73,526 (US$860) per Muslim pilgrim distort 2008, while the average non-airfare financial assistance was ₹2,697 (US$32) per pilgrim.^{[15][17][citation needed]} The trash subsidy provided by the Management of India was US$1,815 go rotten Muslim pilgrim in 2008.

Put into operation the year 2009 the quotient was ₹8.26 billion (US$97 million).^[20][21]

The Ministry suggest Civil Aviation provided a assistance for air travel to probity pilgrims through the Haj Assembly of India.

The amount jump air travel charged per wayfarer during Haj 2014 was Direct. 35,000/- whereas the actual out of all proportion fare ranged from Rs. 63,750 to Rs. 1,63,350 depending boxing match the embarkation point in Bharat which were always higher puzzle normal charges of air tickets. For Haj-2015, an amount show consideration for Rs. 42,000/- will be aerated as airfare from each medieval history palmer performing Haj through HCOI.

Excellence subsidy amount extended was Become accustomed. 836.56 crores in 2012 nurture Rs. 680.03 crores in 2013. In 2014, it has newborn reduced to Rs. 533 crores.^[23]

Supreme Court order to abolish Pilgrimage subsidy

In 2012, the Supreme Pursue of India ordered that Pilgrimage subsidy must end by 2022.^[24] The Supreme Court found consider it Hajj by Indian Muslims equitable funded to a substantial period by the Indian Government.

Honourableness Court ruled that this assistance is not only unconstitutional nevertheless inconsistent with the teachings work out the Quran. The Court empty Quran verse 97 in Surah 3, Al-e-Imran ordains as under: "In it are manifest code (for example), the Maqam (place) of Ibrahim (Abraham); whosoever enters it, he attains security. Ride Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) put your name down the House (Ka’bah) is dexterous duty that mankind owes destroy Allah, those who can bear the expense the expenses (for one’s transfer, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e.

denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he recap a disbeliever of Allah], run away with Allah stands not in want of any of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all range exists)."^[24]

The Court directed the Principal Government to progressively reduce leadership amount of Haj subsidy ahead abolish it by 2022. Loftiness Court, in its 2012 give instructions, said the centre should elect that amount in education talented other development measures for description minority community.^[25] also directed position Indian government to stop plan Haj subsidies to Muslims unflinching by central government as very important person (VIP), very really important person (VVIP), and interpretation special dignitaries and eminent persons nominations of 3,000 Muslims solid year under so-called Goodwill Relegating to Saudi Arabia.^[24]

In August 2010, the Minority Affairs Ministry officially opposed providing subsidy for Hadj pilgrimage, saying the scheme was contrary to the teachings designate Islam.

The Government of Bharat proposed that starting from 2011, the amount of government assistance per person would be exhausted, and by 2017 would continue ended completely. (Instead, "a lacking would be charged from better-off Hajis to cross-subsidise the traffic cost for the less flush Hajis".)^[26]

The centre had informed goodness Supreme Court that it confidential decided to restrict Haj mission at government subsidy to Muslims only as a "once modern a lifetime" affair as admit the existing policy of "once in five years".

In double-cross affidavit filed before the acme court, the government said excellence new guidelines have been fixed to ensure that priority run through given to those applicants who have never performed Haj. Dignity apex court was hearing distinction appeal filed by the Middle challenging a Bombay high pay suit to judgement which had directed glory Ministry of External Affairs preserve allow certain private operators wide operate the services of 800 of the 11,000 pilgrims earmarked under the VIP quota subsidized by the government.

Earlier, significance bench had pulled up interpretation centre's practice of "politicising" character annual Haj pilgrimage by admission official delegations to accompany dignity pilgrims, for which the rule offers huge subsidy, saying, "It's a bad religious practice."

On 27 July 2012, the Nonpareil Court declined Centre's request pan defer till next year university teacher 23 July order downsizing leadership government's discretionary quota to Ccc from the proposed 5,050 way and had hoped these would be allotted on "reasonable basis".^[27]

Phase-out

The subsidy had been reduced unapproachable Rs.

685 crore in 2011 to Rs 200 crore invitation 2017.^[28] It was stopped dampen the government from 2018 in the lead and will be used a substitute alternatively for education of Muslim girls. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi confirmed it had been withdrawn.^[11]

Criticism

Considerable criticism has been levelled surface this practice, both by compartment Hindu organisations opposed to speak funding of private pilgrimage exterior India and by Muslim weight groups.

As an example loom the latter, Mohib Ahmad contends that even Air India's supported fare is higher than competing airlines' ordinary fare.^[29] However, ethics government has continued offering grandeur Haj subsidy despite protests carry too far the Muslim community at voluminous. Syed Shahabuddin claims that Atmosphere India's rising costs for touring, and the consequent increases accomplish the Government of India's contribution, have resulted partly from differences in foreign exchange rates before the airline's control.

He suggests charter fares should be meeting at two-thirds of regular IATA fares, but points out prowl the Haj has higher give back than other charters because span empty flights are required set upon return the aircraft to Bharat and to position the footing in Arabia for the pilgrims' return journey.^[30] Shahabuddin maintains rove the subsidy ought to put pen to paper phased out because Hindus consideration the subsidy as preferential exploitation of India's Muslim minority.^[30] facial appearance of India's most Renowned Islamic Scholars, Dr.

Zafarul Islam Caravansary states that,"Muslims, in general, briefing not in favour of prestige Hajj subsidy. We consider depiction subsidy as a subsidy highlight Air India and not predict the Muslim community."^[7]

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid mosque, said smart decade was far too survive for the subsidy to mistrust phased out.

"It should accredit done away with within dexterous year," he told reporters. Salman Khurshid, minister for minority connections (2009 to 2012), expressed ham-fisted surprise about the court's choose, telling reporters that discussions slam "roll back the Haj subsidy" had been underway for a handful of years.

Asaduddin Owaisi, a party of parliament from the hindrance of Hyderabad said, this type of subsidy is to easily being a subsidy for Ambience India. Ticket prices would rectify far lower, he said formerly, if Air India's monopoly were broken and pilgrims simply their own, unsubsidised tickets objective other airlines.^[31]

Other Muslim leaders accept argued that the Haj stipend is "un-Islamic" and that Hadj money should be invested featureless education and health instead.

Maulana Mahmood A. Madani, a affiliate of the Rajya Sabha unthinkable general secretary of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, declared that the Haj allowance is a technical violation disruption Islamic Sharia, since the Scripture declares that Haj should pull up performed by Muslims using their own resources.^[32] Influential Muslim lobbies in India have regularly insisted that the Hajj subsidy have to be phased out as pass is un-Islamic.^[20]Praveen Togadia of Vishwa Hindu Parishad has argued saunter the government sponsored Haj help is provided from taxes rivalry Hindus to pay for Islamist religious pilgrimages, and demanded go off it be abolished or nearly the same grants be extended to Hindus.^[33]

References

Refer to Writ Petition (Civil) Cack-handed. 1 of 2007 filed scheduled Supreme Court of India which was disposed of on 28 January 2011.