In a significant development for Assam’s Haj pilgrims, the Gauhati High Court has issued an order directing the Haj Committee of India to address the grievances of petitioners who were overcharged for the 2023 pilgrimage.
The petitioners, a group of Haj pilgrims, alleged that they were charged an exorbitant amount of Rs 3,82,297 per person, including a hefty sum of Rs 1,54,694 for a chartered flight from Guwahati to Jeddah. However, they were ultimately accommodated on regular passenger flights, despite the initial promise of a chartered flight.
The petitioners contended that the cancellation of the chartered flight by the Haj Committee resulted in undue charges, and the excess amount collected for airfare has not been refunded. Despite repeated representations to the Chief Executive Officer of the Haj Committee, their pleas fell on deaf ears, prompting them to seek legal recourse.
During the hearing, both the petitioners’ counsel, H.K.J. Ahmed, and the Haj Committee’s counsel, S.K. Medhi, agreed that the matter could be resolved administratively by directing the Haj Committee to dispose of the representations as per Section 42 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002.
In light of this, the Court issued an order directing the Haj Committee to address the petitioners’ grievances within a period of 90 days. The Committee is required to issue a speaking order after hearing the petitioners’ claims.
With this directive, the Court disposed of the writ petition, ensuring that the petitioners’ concerns would be addressed in a timely manner. This development brings hope to the affected pilgrims and underscores the judiciary’s role in safeguarding the rights of citizens.