The Supreme Court has disagreed to entertain an appeal that was filed by the government against the order by the Delhi High Court order which stayed the suspension of registration of certain private Haj Group Organisers.
The issue was placed before the vacation bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice MM Sundresh.
ASG Sanjay Jain, who appeared for the Union, said that if the private Haj operators, which he described as “delinquents”, were permitted to carry on Haj tours, it was the pilgrims who would ultimately suffer.
The bench noted that the matter was up before a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court on July 7 and so decided to not interfere in the same.
The Court added that the Union should let the pilgrims go to Haj without any psychological pressure of ongoing litigation.
Talking about the issue, ASG said that there is a system in place. Saudi Arabia grants a quota– 80% goes to the Haj Committee of India and the remaining is operated through the Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) which are meeting the criteria.
ASG said that on 25th May, serious complaint was issues against some of them. They then approached the High Court of Delhi.
The ASG added that the Union Government did not wish to negatively impact the pilgrims in any manner. Further, the government was willing to ensure that the pilgrims did not have to pay anything extra from their own pocket.
He proposed that the government doesn’t want to impact the Haj pilgrims in any manner.
They will not have to spend anything extra from pocket. Their travel will be given to other HGOs. The Government of India is giving them a financial guarantee.
He further highlighted that even the Delhi High Court passed the order to ensure that the interest of pilgrims should not be compromised in any manner.
He said that the concern of the High Court was also that the pilgrims should not be disadvantaged. If these HGOs are not up to the mark, the pilgrims will face difficulties in Saudi Arabia.
The bench was disinclined for entertaining the matter. Justice Surya Kant said that these contentions will be dealt by the High Court.
The bench believed that the pilgrims go to Haj without any psychological pressure of ongoing litigation It added that it would be be wiser to not take any action against them (HGOs) till they come back…they won’t stay in Saudi Arabia till long.