Central Haj panel to select Kerala pilgrims

MALAPPURAM: As the Kerala State Haj Committee has refused to carry out the draw of lots for the selection of this year's Haj pilgrims from the state, the Haj Committee of India will initiate the selection process of the applicants from Kerala on Tuesday.  Chief executive officer of the central Haj committee Maqsood Ahmed Khan said that the draw of lots will be carried out in Mumbai.

The central panel had earlier requested the state panel to initiate the selection process by Tuesday. However, the state panel remained defiant  as a plea regarding the direct selection of fifth time applicants is pending before the Supreme Court.  "All the data of pilgrims have to be consolidated by January 25. So we can't wait more. The selection of pilgrims from Kerala will be done by the central panel," Mr Khan said.

The state Haj committee had approached the centre to postpone the date for the drawing of lots to February 2 pointing out the impending case in the court which will be heard on January 30. The state panel has demanded reinstating  the reserved category for the direct selection of fifth time applicants which was struck down in the latest Haj policy of the union government.