Introduction:

In a recent development, the Supreme Court has directed the Central Government to take prompt measures to complete the composition of the Central Haj Committee and provide a progress update by March 7, 2024. This order stems from a contempt petition filed concerning the Court’s earlier directives to constitute the Central Haj Committee in accordance with the Haj Committee Act. The Court noted that all three positions on the committee, as per Section 4(1) of the Act, are vacant, posing a challenge to its proper functioning.

Arguments of Both Sides:

The petitioner, represented by Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, highlighted the failure of the Central and State governments to adhere to the Haj Committee Act, 2002. The petitioner argued that India has been without an operational Central Haj Committee since 2019, and as of October 2021, only one out of 19 states had a fully operational State Haj Committee. The petitioner emphasized the need for immediate committee appointments to ensure proper planning and coordination for Hajj 2022.

Court’s Judgement:

The Supreme Court, headed by CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and SC Sharma, directed the Union Government to expedite the composition of the Central Haj Committee, particularly addressing the vacancies in accordance with the Act. The Court emphasized the importance of adhering to the law in constituting the committee and requested a progress report by March 7, 2024. This decision reflects the Court’s commitment to addressing the challenges and ensuring the effective functioning of the Central Haj Committee.