HAJ

All India Conference on Haj 1997

New Delhi, 11 July, 1996

Resolutions (Excerpts)

1. Haj Act: All India Haj Conference 1997 resolve to request Government of India to introduce the new Haj Amendment Bill in the Parliament during the coming monsoon session and to have it enacted in the same session.

2. Haj Flight Operation: All India Haj Conference 1997 resolves that providing the aircrafts for transporting the pilgrims to and from Jeddah be the responsibility of the Air-India; the National Carrier of the country, that Air-India should arrange the movement for Haj 1997 in consultation with and under direction for the Haj Committee.

It is further resolved that the finalisation of the Haj schedule should take place as early as possible but certainly not later than 31st December, 1996.

3. Haj Accommodation: In view of the sharp increase in the Haj quota in last two years, the House resolves to have 3 Tier system of accommodation for the pilgrims in Makkah in the following manner.

Category I New buildings located upto 600 meters from the Haram Sharif.

Category II Buildings within the radius of 850 meters from the Haram Sharif.

Category III Buildings within the parameters of 851 to 1250 meters from the Haram Sharif.

4. Utilisation ofRubats: Resolved that the Haj Committee will not accept any Exemptions beyond the authorised capacity of each Rubat (and) that the Exemption certificates will not be granted by the Haj Committee if the Certificates are received after the prescribed date.

5. Financial Management: (i) resolved that the State Haj Committees will strictly adhere to the calendar of activities finalised at the Haj Conference.

(ii) Resolved that from now onwards pilgrims will be asked to deposit only Rs.5280/- along with his/her application.

(iii) Resolved that the State Haj Committees will immediately transfer this amount within 15 days of closing date of (receipt of) haj application forms. If the State Haj Committees are failed to keep this assurance, from next year all payments will be made directly to Haj Committee.

(iv) Resolved that the pilgrims will deposit air fare atleast three months in advance before the commencement of flights along with remaining amount of foreign exchange.

6. Question of Foreign Exchange:  Resolved that there will be only two categories for foreign exchange i.e. Saudi Riyals 5,500/- and Saudi Riyals 4,600/-, subject to the approval of Ministry of External Affairs.

7. Group Amir-ul-Haj: Resolved that ... one among 100 pilgrims will be selected as Amir-ul-Haj. This designation will be purely honorary and education and religious awareness of the person will be the main criteria at the time of selection.

8. Handling Charges:  Resolved that the pilgrims do not need the services of (the Haj Coolies) or any organisation on payment, as there are voluntary Anjumans and organisations to serve them free of cost.

Shahabuddin's Letter to Minister of Welfare

On Wakf Properties, 31 January, 1997

As you are aware, many immovable wakf properties, land and buildings, in urban areas, are of immense commercial value. But their full value is not being made available to the community. Subject to religious restrictions, the wakf urban land which is not per se of religious significance can be developed for commercial purposes. This will generate surplus resources which can be used for the educational and economic development of the Muslim community and for its welfare but the Mutawallis may not have the foresight or the vision.

On the other hand, there is rising demand for urban land for educational purposes and many Muslim educational societies cannot afford to purchase land in the open market and fulfill the requirements, in this regard, for affiliation and recognition of the institution. I have, therefore, come to feel that the Central Wakf Council must intervene to find a solution by suggesting and

Instructing the Wakf Boards that alienation of available wakf land, urban or rural, by the Mutawallis should be permitted or approved only if at least 50% of the land is made available at concessional price to a recognised educational society for educational purposes.

I would request you to place this suggestion before the Central Wakf Council, which should be constituted at the earliest under the Act of 1995.

Government Statement

On Quota for Haj 1997

The Haj Pilgrim quota for Haj 1997 has been fixed at 56,000 For Haj 1997, it has been decided to have three categories of accommodation for Indian pilgrims, located, respectively, at upto 600 metres, upto 800 metres and between 801 metres and 1200 metres from the Haram Sharief at Makkah. The process of procurement of the accommodation is currently underway and over 42,000 units have already been selected so far. Work with regard to selection of remaining units is being undertaken by the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, with the help of the Building Selection team which is currently in Jeddah.