HC reserves orders on petition seeking subsidiy for Christians

Kochi, Nov 16 (UNI) A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court comprising Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice S Sirijagan today reserved its orders on a petition filed by Kerala Latin Catholic Aikyavedi Secretary Francis Albert seeking a direction to the External Affairs Ministry to grant subsidy to Indian Christains for pilgrimage to the holy lands in Israel and Palestine, at least on the eve of Christmas and Easter, on the lines of subsidy granted to Muslims for their Haj pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina.

The petitioner also sought a direction to the Union Government to take immediate steps to constitute a high power pilgrimage committee for Indian Christians on the model of the Haj Committee for conducting, coordinating, supervising and fecilitating their pilgrimage to their holy lands in Israel and Palestine.

The petitioner argued that the Government's policy granting subsidy to Muslims for their Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and at the same time denying subsidy to Christians for their pilgrimage to their holy lands in Israel and Palestine amounted to discrimination on the grounds of religion.

UNI XR PMM TSM DK1805