The Hindu : National : Court clears pilgrim funds for this year

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Tuesday, May 08, 2007
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Court clears pilgrim funds for this year

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday cleared payment by the Union Government of a subsidy for the Haj pilgrimage and a grant to pilgrims for the Manasarovar yatra this year.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices R.V. Raveendran and H.S. Bedi passed this order on an application from the Centre. Solicitor-General G.E. Vahanvati pleaded for extension of the stay on the Allahabad High Court order, which restrained the Centre from providing funds or subsidy for the Haj or any other pilgrimage.

On a special leave petition filed by the Centre, the court in September last stayed the August 2006 interim order of the High Court, making it clear that the subsidy should be continued only for 2006. The High Court was requested to expeditiously dispose of the writ petition filed by B.N. Shukla.

Now the Centre said that even as arguments were about to be completed, one of the judges recused himself from the hearing and the matter was posted before another Bench of the High Court.

In effect, the August 25, 2006 interim order was revived. The Centre said the Haj pilgrimage for 2007 was talking place in Mecca Saudi Arabia in December and pilgrims would start leaving India by the second week of November.

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