Haj differential pricing: Gujarat HC issues notice, says ‘be grateful’ for getting chance to go on pilgrimage

The petitioners have pointed out that while the difference in the charges in the two embarkation points between 2017 and 2022 has ranged from Rs 2,000 to nearly Rs 5,850, the difference this year is Rs 67,981.

It is also the petitioners’ case that while the charges for those embarking on the pilgrimage from Ahmedabad and Mumbai have remained nearly similar since the two embarkation points are almost equidistant, this year, the cost from Ahmedabad is Rs 3.72 lakh as against Rs 3.04 lakh from Mumbai. This does not include the converted currency of 2,100 SAR (Saudi Riyal), which was earlier given to all pilgrims.

Justice Nanavati on Wednesday remarked to the petitioner’s advocate M A Kharadi, “At least you have got an opportunity to visit the place of pilgrimage, be grateful for that. I think if you are going for pilgrimage you should be glad that when there were draws which were drawn, you were selected and you have got an opportunity to visit…Be happy that you are able to travel.”

Once a pilgrim is selected by the draw of lots, the requisite amount — charges fixed by the Haj Committee of India — needs to be deposited. This includes the to-and-fro travel expenses from the respective embarkation points to Saudi Arabia, accommodation in Saudi Arabia, and other logistics, and exchanged and converted currency of 2,100 SAR for spending during the pilgrimage.

The petitioners have also highlighted that in the previous years, the break-up of the amount recovered under various heads was made known and disclosed to the pilgrims and the same has not been done this year.