Allahabad HC refuses to stay order on Haj subsidy

Lucknow, Sep 7 (UNI) A division bench of the Allahabad High Court here today refused to put a stay on the earlier order of the court banning government subsidy for Haj and other pilgrimages.

The Lucknow Bench of the Court, however, clarified its earlier order saying the government could continue to spend funds for the purpose of security and other things except for personal subsidy for Haj or any other pilgrimages.

A division bench comprising Justices A K Yog and Shailendra Saxena, on applications by the Centre and UP government, gave their ruling.

The centre and UP government have moved applications for vacating the stay order granted by the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court on August 25 banning subsidy for Haj and other pilgrimages.

The bench, in its order has directed the petitioner to file a rejoinder affadavit within a week and has fixed September 18 as the final date of hearing in the case.

The Lucknow Bench had barred the centre and UP government from providing financial subsidy for Haj pilgrimage.

The Bench comprising Justices A K Yog and O N Khandelwal on August 25 ruled such subsidy should not be granted with regard to any pilgrimage of any community on a petition filed by Bharat Nath Shukla.

Consequently, on behalf of the Centre, Additional Solicitor General of India Deepak Seth moved the application, while Chief Standing Counsel S H A Rizvi filed the affidavit on UP's behalf.

During the hearing today, State Advocate General S M A Kazmi, appearing on behalf of UP government, said the state government do not give any subsidy to Haj or any other pilgrimage.

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