HC grants interim relief to private Haj tour operators

In a relief to private tour operators (PTOs) who conduct Haj pilgrimage tours, the Bombay High Court today said that eligibility criterion of annual turnover of Rs one crore, laid down by the Ministry of External Affairs, would not be mandatory for the time being.
The order was given by a bench headed by Justice S J Vajifdar which granted interim relief on a petition filed by All India Haj Umrah Tour Organisers Association and two others.
With the interim relief, the bench admitted the petition for final hearing which would be held in due course.
The court had last month restrained the Union Government from disqualifying PTOs on the basis of its press release prescribing conditions for them.

Petitioners have said that the condition of having a certain minimum turnover would put many small-time operators out of business.