Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s response on the Kerala Haj Committee’s plea alleging that the policy to grant state-wise quota for Haj pilgrims is discriminatory.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud yesterday asked the central government to file its response on the plea within two weeks and posted the petition for hearing on January 30.
The Kerala Haj Committee said the Union of India had been allowed by the Saudi Arabian government to send 1.7 lakh Haj pilgrims every year and the central government distributed the quota on the basis of the Muslim population in each state.
The Committee alleged that the present quota system is discriminatory and said there should be an all-India draw of lots to decide who will go on Haj.
Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, justified the present quota policy saying it has been devised by the Central Haj Committee after considering the suggestions of 31 different state Haj committees.
