The bench of Justice Abdul Nazeer and V Ramasubramanian directed the States of Maharashtra, MP, Delhi & Puducherry to constitute Haj Committee in Six weeks and file a compliance report before it. The Court also directed UT of J&K and the State of Rajasthan to file affidavit in this regard within four weeks.

The Bench of the Supreme Court was hearing a matter pertaining to the Constitution of the Central Haj Committee as prescribed under sections 3 and 4 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002, and made oral remarks that the States are not represented and the court would call the Chief Secretaries of these states. The Court also questioned the Addl. Solicitor General appearing for the Union as to why the Committee is not being constituted. When the court asked the ASG, if it is possible to constitute the same within 4 weeks, the ASG replied it can be constituted since most of the States have already done it.

Earlier last month, the Court had directed the State Governments to inform the court if the States have constituted Haj Committee by filing an affidavit in this regard. The affidavit was also required to state the names of the members of the Committee. It is to be noted that Haj Committee is not operational for the last 3 years in many states.

Case Details:-

Writ Petition No. 1229/2021

Hafiz Naushad Ahmed Azmi    ...Petitioner

Versus

Union of India   ...Respondents