Shahabuddin's Letter to Prime Minister, 27 December, 1997

The Haj Committee whose term expired in 1996 continues to function, on one pretext and the other. Ostensibly a case has been made out that there is a legal lacunae in the Haj Committee Act, 1959 and that a Haj Committee once constituted, continues to remain in office, beyond its normal term of 5 years, till its successor Committee is constituted. This lacunae has been utilised for indefinite and unlimited extension of the Committee while it should have been reconstituted in 1996 or even in 1997 by amending the Rules or even the Act itself. But this was not done. As a result a "defunct" and "lame-duck" Committee under a Chairman (who is a  nominee of the Government of India on the Committee)whose efficiency and integrity have come under a cloud  has been permitted by the Ministry of External Affairs to manage Haj 1997, and now even Haj 1998!

I believe that the MEA has all the nominations from various authorities and is in a position to reconstitute the Committee under the 1959 Act. Still the Committee is not being reconstituted. This is nothing but political patronage to suit the Chairman and not at all in accord with the interest of the pilgrims or the wishes of the Muslim community. Since the new Haj legislation on Haj management is not likely to see the light of the day for another year, I request once again that the Government reconstitute the Committee forthwith.

Shahabuddin's Letter to Mutawalli, Tonk Waqfs Harmain Sharifain,17 December, 1997

The 5 Tonk Rubats in Makka and Madina which were demolished have been replaced by:

2 buildings in Shamia and Haratul Bab in Makka which are under the Nizamat of Amin Dehalavi and Mr. A. Razzak Dehlavi. But these buildings have been rented out commercially and the Nazims rent other buildings to accommodate 224 pilgrims. I would be grateful to be informed whether this arrangement is within your knowledge, whether the two buildings have a capacity of only 224 and whether their rent is being fully utilised for the pilgrims and 2 buildings in Medina under the Nizamat of Amir Dehalavi. I am told that one building is being underutilised as it can serve upto 1000 pilgrims but only 500 are accommodated. The second building is operational since Haj 1997 but it is not being utilised for Indian pilgrims at all but for outsiders. I would be grateful if you would be kind enough to let me know if you are aware of the situation.

I would request you to ensure fullest possible utilisation of these Rubats for pilgrims from Tonk,  Rajasthan and other parts of India and to instruct the Nazims to cooperate and coordinate with the C.G. of India, Jeddah in this regard.