Lok Sabha Question No. 4499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: The Haj Committee of India
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Mohibbullah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4499

ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## 'THE HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA'

## 4499. SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Haj Committee of India has been constituted as per the Haj Act, 2002 and if so, the details thereof along with its current composition;
- (b)  the  details  of  process  for  selecting  members  of  the  Haj  Committee  and  Authority responsible for their appointment;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  term  of  office  for  Haj  Committee  members  and  the  criteria  for  their eligibility;
- (d)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  ensures  that  the  Haj  Committee  represents  the interests of all Muslim communities in India; and
- (e) the details of roles and responsibilities of the Haj Committee and the manner in which it coordinates with other Government agencies?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a): The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) is a statutory body constituted under the provisions of the Haj Committee Act, 2002. It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. The previous Haj Committee was constituted on 1st April, 2022 for a three-year term, which expired on 31st March, 2025.

(b) and (c): The composition of Haj Committee as defined in Section 4 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002 is as under:-

- (i)   three members of Parliament of whom two are to be nominated by the Speaker of the House of the People from among its Muslim members, and one by the Chairman of the Council of States from among its Muslim members:

Provided that a member of Parliament shall, upon ceasing to be a member, cease to be a member of the Committee and the Speaker of the House of the People or the Chairman of the Council of States, as the case may be, shall make a fresh nomination upon request by the Central Government;

(ii)  nine  Muslim  members  of  the  Committee  shall  be  elected,  three  from  those  States sending largest number of pilgrims during last three years and one each from the zones as specified in the Schedule, in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided  that  not  more  than  one  member shall  be elected from a  State falling  in  the zone as specified in the Schedule;

(iii)  four  persons  not  below  the  rank  of  Joint  Secretary  to  the  Government  of  India nominated  by  that  Government  to  represent  the  Ministries  of  External  Affairs,  Home, Finance and Civil Aviation, as ex officio members;

(iv) seven Muslim members shall be nominated by the Central Government from among the following categories of persons, namely:-

(a) two  members  who  have  special  knowledge  of  public  administration,  finance, education, culture or social work and out of whom one shall be a Shia Muslim;

- (b) two women members, out of them one shall be Shia Muslim;
- (c) three members who have special knowledge of Muslim theology and law, out of them one shall be a Shia Muslim.

Further, as per Section 6 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002, the term of office of the members of the Committee (other than the ex-officio members and members filling casual vacancies) shall be three years, commencing on the day following the publication of the list of members under section 5:

Provided that  the  term  of  the  members  of  the  Committee  may  be  extended  by  the  Central Government by a notification in the Official Gazette for a period not exceeding six months at a time but, in any case, not exceeding beyond a total period of one year.

(d):  The  Haj  Committee  of  India  (HCoI),  a  statutory  body  constituted  under  the  Haj Committee Act, 2002. The composition of the HCoI is defined under Section 4 of the said Act,  which  provides  for  representation  from  various  States/Union  Territories,  Muslim Members of Parliament, Muslim members of State Legislatures, and eminent Muslims. This statutory  composition  ensures  that  the  interests  of  all  sections  of  the  Muslim  community across the country are adequately represented.

(e): The Haj Committee of India has the primary responsibility of making arrangements for  Indian  Haj  pilgrims  within  India,  it  closely  coordinates  with  the  Ministry  of  Minority Affairs, the Consulate General of India (CGI), Jeddah, and other Government agencies such as the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and the Ministry of External Affairs for the smooth and successful conduct of the Haj pilgrimage. Haj Committee of India coordinates with appropriate Government agencies to ensure integrated planning and execution of  various  aspects  of  the  pilgrimage,  including  flight  scheduling  and  operations, medical  facilities,  consular  support,  and  liaison  with  the  Kingdom  of  Saudi  Arabia  for arrangements in Makkah, Madinah, and other pilgrimage sites.

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