Justice Singh made the observations while hearing a batch of petitions filed by several Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) challenging the suspension of their registration and quota as well as the show cause notice issued to them last month by the Central government.
It was argued that the government issued the consolidated list of allocation of Haj Quota for Haj-2023 and published a comment against the petitioners which read as “Registration Certificate & Quota Kept in abeyance till finalization of proceedings in complaint related matter”.
The HGOs argued that their registration certificate and Haj quota have arbitrarily been ordered to be kept in abeyance till the finalization of proceedings in a complaint-related matter.
However, the counsel appearing for the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs contended that there was gross misrepresentation of facts by the petitioner HGOs and it came to light during the visit of a team of officials from the ministry to the office premises of the petitioner HGOs.
The Court was told that the government is contemplating serious penal action, which would include blacklisting and cancelling of registration of the HGOs. It was submitted that the government is not willing to take the risk of placing the fate of pilgrims in the hands of these non-compliant HGO.
Source: Barandbench
