The Delhi State Haj Committee is a statutory body constituted under the Delhi Haj Rules, 2006, which were framed under the Haj Act, 2002 (Parliament Act No. 35 of 2002). It is the state-level committee responsible for organizing and facilitating the Haj pilgrimage for Muslim residents of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Establishment and Legal Framework
The first Delhi State Haj Committee was constituted in 2007, though a regular and fully functional committee came into force in 2013. The committee operates under the broader framework of the Haj Committee of India (also known as the Central Haj Committee), a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. The legal basis for state-level committees derives from the Haj Committee Act, 2002, which replaced earlier legislation including the Port Haj Committees Act of 1932.
Functions
Delhi is one of the major embarkation centers for Haj pilgrims in India. The committee's responsibilities include:
- Receiving and processing Haj applications from residents of Delhi.
- Conducting the selection process (including digital randomized selection, or Qurrah) for pilgrims.
- Coordinating travel, accommodation, and logistics for pilgrims departing from Delhi.
- Disseminating information and guidance regarding Haj procedures, visa requirements, and health advisories.
- Acting as a liaison between pilgrims and the Haj Committee of India, as well as with Saudi Arabian authorities.
Leadership
As of available information, the Chairperson of the Delhi State Haj Committee is Ms. Kausar Jahan. The Executive Officer is Dr. Ashfaque Ahmad Arfi. The committee functions under the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Relation to the Haj Committee of India
The Haj Committee of India (Central Haj Committee) distributes the annual Haj quota allotted by Saudi Arabia to each state based on Muslim population density (according to the 2011 Census). The Delhi State Haj Committee administers the pilgrimage for Delhi's allocated share of this quota. The Central Haj Committee has 23 members, including six elected by state Haj committees, and serves as the nodal agency for all state-level committees.
