HC asks centre to frame policy for facilitating pilgrimages

Mumbai, July 25 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today asked the central government to frame a comprehensive policy for providing subsidy to all religious pilgrimages on par with those being provided for Haj.

A division bench comprising Justice J N Patel and Justice A A Sayyad directed the Foreign secretary to file an affidavit, within six weeks, stating as to what the government has done in this direction or what it proposed to do.

The direction came in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by a Pune resident Amarsing Jadhavrao, seeking similar facilities to be provided to other regious pilgrimages, as were being provided for Haj.

S Sarkar, appearing for the Union Government, pointed out to the court that the subject matter relates to a policy decision and a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution was not maintainable on this issue, adding that the matter was now pending with the Supreme Court.

But the court was prompt to clear that the petitioner was not seeking cancellation of Haj subsidy, like the one handled by Lucknow High Court and on the contrary, he prayed for removing discrimination in the treatment meted to different religions at the hands of the central government.

Saying this, the court noted in its order that it expected the Union Government to frame a comprehensive policy as regards giving subsidy for all religious pilgrimages, so that persons belonging to all religions could benefit and they could undertake desired pilgrimage, which otherwise would be beyond their means.

UNI