MALAPPURAM: The Union government’s change of mind in Supreme Court on Tuesday has become a significant relief to around 1000 Haj pilgrims who had unsuccessfully applied during the past five consecutive years under Kerala State Haj Committee.
While hearing petitions to reinstate the reserved quota of fifth-time applicants, the Centre made it clear that those aged 65-69 would be selected without drawing lots this year.
According to the ministry of minority affairs which oversees the Haj affairs, there are 1965 applicants in this category of which majority are from Kerala.
Pilgrims from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir would also get benefited.
“However, there is unc-ertainty over the prosp-ects of bystanders who applied along with the elders in the same cover. The court has advised the Haj Committee of India to examine the possibilities of allowing the bystan-ders with them. We will request the central Haj panel to include the bystanders who are close to the applicants,” an official said.
The Union government has also made it clear that the relief would be applicable only for this year. The applicants aged above 70 have already a reserved quota, and the rest will be selected through drawing lots each year.
Saudi Arabia had provided an additional quota of 5000 seats for India this year. The special quota for the fifth time applicants will be drawn from the Haj Committee of India.
