The Minister of External Affairs, Shrimati Sushma Swaraj in statement laid on the table of the Lok Sabha today informed the members that since Haj 2013, the Saudi Government has reduced the overall Haj quota for pilgrims from foreign countries, including from India, by 20% and for domestic pilgrims by 50% due to the ongoing Mataaf expansion project in Makkah. Haj quota for India has been reduced to 1,36,020 since Haj-2013.
During Haj 2012, quota allotted to PTOs was 45,000. During Haj 2013, PTOs quota was reduced to 14,600 as against their original allocation of 45,000. During Haj 2014, quota allotted to PTOs is 36,000 after a proportional reduction of 20% from their allocation of 45,000 in Haj 2012.
The list of qualified PTOs for Haj-2014 has been published vide press release of 21 April, 2014 issued by the Haj Cell in the Ministry of External Affairs (The list is available on the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs).
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has approved the PTO Policy 2013-17 vide its judgement of 16 April, 2013 in the Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) no. 28609/2011.
The terms and conditions for registration of PTOs are enumerated in the approved policy annexed to the judgement (The approved PTO Policy is available on the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs).
Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its judgement of 23 July, 2012 in the Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) no. 28609/2011 has limited the Hajj discretionary quota to the following dignitaries:-
(i) President of India – 100 Seats
(ii) Vice President of India – 75 Seats
(iii) Prime Minister of India – 75 Seats
(iv) Minister of External Affairs – 50 Seats
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has not granted any special Haj quota to Hon’ble Members of Parliament.
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