Haj subsidy is constitutional, says government

New Delhi: The Indian government has declared that the subsidy given to Haj pilgrims is constitutional and said that courts should not interfere in policy matters.
In an affidavit filed in the Lucknow bench of Allhabad high court, the central government Monday said that "the expenditure for facilitating and supporting the pilgrimage to religious places is clearly covered" under Article 282 of the Indian constitution.
The central government also clarified that no money was paid to the pilgrims and all what the government does is to charter flights through state carrier Air India in which the pilgrims get a lower fare than the actual fare.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government last week decided to pay the round trip fare to 10,000 more Haj pilgrims every year, taking the total number entitled to the subsidy to 110,000.
20/11/06 IANS/Telugu Portal

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