1. The Attorney General informs the Court that the number of Haj pilgrims from India for a given year is determined on the basis of the agreement that the Government of India enters into with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia every year. He further informs that this year the bilateral agreement is likely to be signed between March 14 to 16, 2012.
2. For the year 2011, the bilateral agreement fixed the total number of Haj pilgrims from India at 1,70,491. Out of the aforesaid figure, 1,25,000 was specified as the Government of India/State Haj Committees' quota and the remaining 45,491 as Private Tour Operators' (PTOs) quota. Out of the Government quota of 1,25,000,1,18,239 (i.e. 1,14,000+4,239) were given to the Haj Committees of different States. The remaining 6,761 were retained by the Government of India.
3. The Court needs to know the basis on which the numbers are distributed among the Haj Committees of the different States and the Central Government.
4. In case, the number of applications in a State exceeds the quota allotted to the Haj Committee of that State, the selections are made normally on draw of lots. But what is the basis on which the quota retained by the Central Government is assigned to individual Haj pilgrims
5. Then, there is the issue of the Prime Minister's Goodwill Delegation/official delegation. The Court needs to know its complete history. In which year, under what circumstances, and for what purpose the official delegation was sent for the first time by the Union of India for Haj What was the number of the first official Haj delegation and how it has increased over the years What purpose does the delegation serve now What is the basis on which people are selected as members of the official Haj delegation From what other countries similar delegations are sent for Haj The Court also needs to know the details of the members of the Haj delegation for the past 10 years.
6. On the issue of Prime Minister's Goodwill Delegation, the report submitted by the Consul General of India, Jeddah, is likely to throw some light. Further, in case any committee(s) was/were set up in the past to examine the desirability and advisability to send an official delegation for Haj, the Court would like to know about its/their report(s).
7. The Court also needs to know the issue of subsidy in detail. How and in what manner subsidies are given to Haj pilgrims What is the policy behind this subsidy Since when it is being given
8. The learned Attorney General states that he would be able to apprise the Court on these issues once the bilateral agreement for this year is executed and on the basis of the agreement, the Government of India formulates its policy.
9. As requested by the Attorney General, let this matter be listed on April 16, 2012.
10. The transfer petitions be also listed on the said date.
