Port Blair, Jan 18: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma called on the Hon’ble Lt. Governor yesterday at Raj Niwas and raised many crucial issues.
One prominent issue among others was re-constitution of Andaman & Nicobar Islands UT Haj Committee and appointment of Executive Officer for UT Haj Committee.
Highlighting a long pending grievance of the Muslim population of this Union Territory he informed the Hon’ble Lt. Governor that the A&N Islands UT Haj Committee was re-constituted vide Notification No. 20-35/2002- Haj (S.W) dated 26th May, 2006 for period of three years w.e.f. 01.07.2006 which was extended for further period of six months w.e.f 01.07.2009 or till a new Committee is reconstituted whichever is earlier vide Notification No. 1-5/2009-Haj (S.W) dated 30th October 2009. The said extended period expired in December 2009.
Thereafter the Administration has not re-constituted the Committee as per the provision exists in the Haj Committee Act and Rules. On receipt of representations from various organisations and public representatives in 2017 and 2018 in the matter of undue delay, the Administration started the process of formation of a new Haj Committee and nomination was invited from the interested Muslim persons through Daily Telegrams in the month of March, 2018.
He added that the Screening Committee constituted by the Administration had recommended 06 eligible persons for the new Haj Committee from amongst the nominations received in the month of May, 2018. The file is presently pending in Administration.
The Member of Parliament mentioned that the matter of undue delay in re-constitution of Haj Committee was again and again taken up by the public representatives of A & N Islands and again the Administration started the process of re-constitution of Haj Committee for A & N Islands and fresh nomination was invited in the month of May, 2023 through the Daily Telegrams. The Screening Committee constituted by the Administration has recommended 05 eligible candidates from amongst the nominations received, in the month of June-July-2023. The character and integrity of all the recommended candidates got verified by the Administration through the concerned police department. All the official formalities have been completed by the Administrative section of the Administration to re-constitute the new Haj Committee but even after the period of 6 to 7 months, no Committee has been formed till date.
He added that all the States and UTs in India have their own Haj Committee to look after the welfare and affairs of Haj Pilgrims of their respective States / UT. The States / UT Haj Committee implements the decisions of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt. of India in coordination with Central Haj Committee, Mumbai for the welfare of Haj Pilgrims during their journey from their destination to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and back to home.
The Member of Parliament mentioned that as per the provision exists in the Act and Rules, the Administration appointed one Officer from the Administration on additional capacity as Executive Officer for the UT Haj Committee to assist the Haj Committee to implement the decisions of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt.of India through Central Haj Committee, Mumbai. Utilization of grant-in-aid received from the Administration for the functioning of the office and other connected Haj activities has empowered the Executive Officer being Govt. Servant. The tenure of the Executive
Officer has expired on 31.12.2023 and thereafter the service of said Executive Officer has neither extended nor any new Officer has been appointed.
He pointed out that the Central Haj Committee under the Ministry of Minority Affairs Govt. of India has announced the commencement of Haj 2024. The last date for submission of application by the intending Haj Pilgrims is 15th January, 2024. Thereafter various official formalities is required to be completed in a time bound manner alongwith rest of the country as per the instructions of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt. of India and Central Haj Committee, Mumbai.
He added that there is immediate need to appoint the Executive Officer and to reconstitute the A & N Islands UT Haj Committee to get all the official formalities completed by the Haj pilgrims as per the time frame fixed for various activities.