The Supreme Court Monday declined to pass any order on a petition filed by the Federation of Haj Private Tour Operators of India against the condition imposed on Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) to charge extra for an additional quota of 10,000 seats allocated to them.
A Vacation Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B.R. Gavai said most of the concerns of the private tour operators were addressed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs following a June 20 meeting. “Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner seeks permission to withdraw the present writ petition with a liberty to file a fresh writ petition, if required and necessary for the subsequent years. Permission is granted. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed as withdrawn with liberty as prayed,” the Bench said.
A circular, issued by the Ministry on June 21, said the private operators “may make adjustments within the overall package rate”. On June 3, the Ministry issued a circular allotting an additional quota of 10,000 seats to HGOs. “The circular has enunciated certain conditions in relation to the allotment of an additional quota of 10,000 seats to HGOs, whereby HGOs have to...charge the additional quota seats as per Haj Committee of India rates,” the petition said.