LUCKNOW, INDIA, August 26, 2006: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a blanket ban on the subsidy given by the central and state governments to Haj pilgrims. The order came on a petition moved 11 years ago by advocate Hari Shankar Jain on behalf of Vishwa Hindu Parisad activist B.N. Shukla. While announcing their verdict, a division bench comprising Justice A.K. Yog and O.N. Khandelwal, ruled that no subsidy should be given by the state or central governments for any kind of pilgrimage. The court however, sought to clarify that it did not intend to impose any restriction on the other facilities extended by the governments in the larger interest of safety and well-being of pilgrims of any community. The order further adds, “This would include security measures for pilgrimages like the annual Amarnath yatra as well.” While issuing the order, the court has given six weeks time to the state and central governments to file their respective counter-affidavits in their regard.
For additional information the subsidies, click here. Each year, 77,000 Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia from India on discounted Air India flights that cost the government US$34 million yearly.