NEW DELHI — Haj is one of the most complex organizational tasks undertaken by Government of India outside its borders. Although a five-day religious congregation, it is virtually a year-long managerial exercise. Indian Haj pilgrims who constitute one of the largest national groups perform Haj through two streams — the Haj Committee of India (HCOI), and registered Private Tour Operators (PTOs). HCOI established under the Haj Committee Act 2002 is responsible for making the arrangements for pilgrims performing Haj through them. Consulate General of India, Jeddah coordinates all arrangements for the HCOI pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The Haj quota for India fixed by the Saudi Arabian government was reduced by 20% to 136,020 after Haj 2013. In 2016, 135,902 pilgrims performed Haj out of which 99,902 went through HCOI and 36,000 through PTOs. The Haj quota has been restored to 170,025 for Haj 2017.
The Supreme Court in its judgment dated April 16, 2013, examined some of the major issues concerning the Haj policy of the government of India and approved the Haj Policy 2013-17 for the Haj Committee of India (HCOI) and policy for Private Tour Operators (PTOs) for Haj 2013-17. While approving the Haj Policy for HCOI the court inter alia directed “the final policies framed shall remain valid and operative for a period of five years upto Haj 2017 and may be amended only in case of any change in the arrangements with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as per the agreement entered into between the two countries every year. The next five years policy will be similarly framed, keeping in view any problems that might have been encountered in following the previous policy and taking into account any improvements, innovations and technological advances in order to add content and quality to the succeeding policy and to make it perform better than the previous policy.”
Similarly policy for Private Tour Operators for Haj 2013-2017 was approved with the direction that “it shall remain valid for five years and shall not be questioned before any court or authority.” Thus the current policies are in force till Haj 2017. Keeping in view directions of the court the crucial importance of the policy in facilitating comfortable travel and stay of Haj pilgrims, it is expedient to review the said policies with a view to further improve the arrangements for the benefit of the intending Haj pilgrims to cover the period 2018-2022. Therefore, in order to examine all aspects relevant to the formulation of a new policy to be applicable from Haj 2018 onwards, a committee of knowledgeable people enjoying public confidence is constituted with the following composition: Afzal Amanullah, IAS, Retd. former secretary to govt. of India and ex CGI, Jeddah – convener, Justice S.S. Parkar, retired judge of Bombay High Court, Qaiser Shamim, IRS (retired), former chairman, Haj Committee of India, Kamal Faruqui, noted chartered accountant and Muslim scholar, Michael Mascarenhas, retired CMD Air India and J. Alam, joint secretary, in-charge of Haj, Ministry of Minority Affairs – member secretary.
The committee shall be required to consult all sections of stakeholders, including travel trade. The deputy secretary, Haj Division shall assist the committee in its work and the Haj Division of the ministry will provide secretarial assistance to the committee. The expenses on the travel, accommodation, meetings and other arrangements for the committee shall be borne by the Haj Committee of India. The committee will submit its report to the Ministry of Minority Affairs within three months of its constitution.
