The Punjab-Haryana High Court has raised queries regarding the petition that challenges the recently initiated Chief Minister Teerth Yatra Scheme by the Punjab Government. The court has sought information from the Punjab government about the states where this scheme has already been implemented and inquired about the current status of the scheme in those states.

Parvinder Singh Kitna, a resident of Hoshiarpur, communicated to the High Court through his advocate, HC Arora, that on November 27, 2023, the Punjab government initiated a program offering free pilgrimage opportunities to the residents of Punjab.

In this fiscal year, the initiative entails operating 13 trains over a span of 13 weeks, with each train accommodating 1000 passengers. Additionally, the program includes the daily operation of 10 buses from various locations within the state, each capable of carrying 43 passengers. The state government is allocating Rs 40 crore for the implementation of this scheme, anticipating that 50,000 individuals will benefit from it.

The petitioner contended that the scheme represents a direct misuse of taxpayers' funds, asserting that it will not contribute to any developmental or welfare objectives. Citing the precedent set in the case of Government of India vs. Rafiq Sheikh and others, where the Supreme Court addressed the expenditure associated with providing subsidies to the Muslim community for the Haj pilgrimage, it directed the Central Government to progressively decrease the Haj subsidy annually and completely phase it out within a 10-year timeframe.

The Supreme Court additionally emphasized that the subsidy funds could be more effectively utilized for purposes such as education, social development, and other uplifting initiatives. In the recent court session, the High Court criticized the Punjab Government, highlighting the contradiction between the aspirations of the youth for employment opportunities and the substantial expenditure on the free pilgrimage scheme.

The government was admonished and requested to provide an explanation for allocating crores of rupees to this program in light of the pressing need for employment opportunities.