Hajj 2024: Indian Pilgrims await clearance for stay in Mina
Bengaluru: As the countdown to the sacred Hajj pilgrimage commences for Indian pilgrims, uncertainty looms over their stay in the Mina zone (Place where the ‘stoning of devil’ takes place across three days). Despite private Hajj tour operators facilitating the journey of the pilgrims, the absence of clearance for Indian pilgrims to stay in Mina has caused much dissatisfaction among tour operators and pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Private Hajj tour operators also have to make other preparations before the beginning of the pilgrimage, including verification of pilgrims' documents, booking hotels, arranging accommodation for pilgrims at Arafat and Mina, appointing Muallims (a guide appointed by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah).
Pilgrims from different states, including Karnataka and Kerala, are scheduled to begin their journey for Hajj through private tour operators from the third week of May.
While private tour operators would deposit the money of pilgrims into the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) account, this year as per the new regulations of the Saudi Arabian government, private Hajj tour operators were asked to deposit the money into the Indian Haj Mission account, from where the pilgrims would draw the money to cover the expenses incurred during the pilgrimage.
Tour operators have expressed facing difficulties in collecting money owing to the new regulations made by the Saudi government, as the process of depositing money to the IBAN account would be completed within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Karnataka State Hajj Organizers Association General Secretary Shafi Ahmed, speaking to the Vartha Bharathi, highlighted that owing to the delays by the Indian Hajj Committee and the Indian Hajj Mission, tour operators have not been able to book hotel accomadation for piligrims. “Vaccinations should be given to the pilgrims. So far there is a lack of vaccination supply from the Ministry of Health. We have brought this matter to the attention of the Indian Hajj Committee and the State Hajj Committee.”
“Airline tickets are booked for Hajj pilgrims through operators. If the pilgrims get a chance to stay in Mina, where should we accommodate the pilgrims? If the pilgrims are not able to travel on the day we have booked air tickets, we will reportedly face a major financial hardship,” Shafi expressed concern.
“The Union government should pay attention to this matter immediately. In addition, The Government of Saudi Arabia should initiate discussions with the Indian Hajj Mission and facilitate the accommodation in Mina. At least 3 thousand pilgrims from our state will travel for Hajj this year,” he added.
Expressing that the Government of India and the Indian Hajj Mission have to work seriously in this matter, Shoukal Ali Sultan, the President of the Karnataka Hajj Organizers Association said, “Currently we are facing problems in transferring pilgrims' money to the Indian Hajj Mission account. Additionally, the fact that we are yet to get approval to stay in the Mina zone has added to our problems. We are in constant touch with the State Hajj Committee and will solve the problem as soon as possible and facilitate the pilgrims going for the pilgrimage through private tour operators.”
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SC refuses to entertain plea against new criminal laws, allows withdrawal of petition
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition which challenged the enactment of three new laws that seek to overhaul India's penal codes.
A vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal allowed petitioner advocate Vishal Tiwari to withdraw the plea.
The Lok Sabha, on December 21 last year, passed three key legislations -- the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bills on December 25.
These new laws -- the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act -- will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.
At the outset, the bench told Tiwari, "We are dismissing it (petition)".
The bench said these laws have not come into force so far.
As the court showed its disinclination to entertain the plea, Tiwari urged that he be allowed to withdraw the petition.
"The petition has been filed in a very casual and cavalier manner," the bench observed, adding, "If you had argued more, we would have dismissed it with cost but since you are not arguing, we are not imposing cost".
Seeking a stay on the operation of the three new laws, the PIL filed by Tiwari had claimed they were enacted without any parliamentary debate as most of the opposition members were under suspension.
The plea had sought directions from the court for the immediately constitution of an expert committee that will assess the viability of the three new criminal laws.
"The new criminal laws are far more draconian and establish a police state in reality and violate every provision of fundamental rights of the people of India. If the British laws were considered colonial and draconian, then the Indian laws stand now far more draconian as, in the British period, you could keep a person in police custody for a maximum of 15 days. Extending 15 days to 90 days and more is a shocking provision enabling police torture," the plea had claimed.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita encompasses offences, such as acts of secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities, separatist activities or endangering the sovereignty or unity of the country, in a new avatar of the sedition law.
According to the new laws, anyone purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, by visible representation, by electronic communication, by use of financial means, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite secession or an armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India or indulges in or commits any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment that may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.
According to IPC section 124A, which deals with sedition, anyone involved in the crime may be punished with life imprisonment or with a three-year jail term.
Also, for the first time, the word "terrorism" has been defined in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. It was absent in the IPC.
Under the new laws, the magistrate's power to impose fines has been increased as well as the scope for declaring a proclaimed offender.
