UNION OF INDIA Vs. RAFIQUE SHAIKH BHIKAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Attorney General informs the Court that the number of Haj pilgrims from India for a given year is determined on the basis of the agreement that the Government of India enters into with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia every year. He further informs that this year the bilateral agreement is likely to be signed between March 14 to 16, 2012.

(2.) For the year 2011, the bilateral agreement fixed the total number of Haj pilgrims from India at 1,70,491. Out of the aforesaid figure, 1,25,000 was specified as the Government of India/State Haj Committees' quota and the remaining 45,491 as Private Tour Operators' (PTOs) quota. Out of the Government quota of 1,25,000,1,18,239 (i.e. 1,14,000+4,239) were given to the Haj Committees of different States. The remaining 6,761 were retained by the Government of India.

(3.) The Court needs to know the basis on which the numbers are distributed among the Haj Committees of the different States and the Central Government.