Court rejects petition on pilgrimage subsidy

Kochi, 23 Nov (UNI) The Kerala High Court today dismissed a petition seeking a direction to the Centre to provide subsidy to those Christian pilgrims, who visit religious sites in Israel and Palestine on the lines of the Haj subsidy.

While dismissing the petition filed by Latheen Catholic Aikya Vedi general secretary Francis Albert, a division bench comprising Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice Siri Jagan observed that the petitioner could not convince the court that Christians as a class the world over undertake pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine either during Christmas or Easter or at any other time for that matter like in the case of Haj pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina, which was undertaken by Muslims all over the world during a specific period of the year.

The court also observed that if the prayer of the petitioner was allowed, it would lead to disastrous results to the nation both economically and in terms of religious harmony.

UNI XR CR VD DB2054