The city’s Muslim community has welcomed the Supreme Court directive to the centre to phase out the Haj subsidy, but with attendant demands and suggestions. An alternative to the subsidy needs to be made soon, they said, along with a global tender system in place.

The SC order came after the Centre challenged the Bombay high court ruling in favour of private operators, allowing them to take on certain numbers of subsidised pilgrims.

Around 1.25 lakh pilgrims travel every year from India to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Of these, the quota for Maharashtra consists of over 7,300. However, last year around 12,000 went from the state, after other states surrendered seats. “If the government policy is to not give other communities any kind of subsidy, then it is alright to do away with the subsidy. But not having another arrangement would be an injustice to the community,” said Maulana Hakim Mehmood Dariyabadi, general secretary, All India Ulema Council.

Alleging that the subsidy was actually cheating the community, Maulana Ather Ali, member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said, “They were actually subsidising Air India, since it was making a loss. Air India officials, in turn, were pocketing the money.”

He added, “Air India was, at times, charging as high as Rs54,000 as fare, as its return journey would be without any passengers. We instead demand that the government make this entire thing an open tender case. Prices will come down, and pilgrims will get a better deal too.”

Dariyabadi, said, “The government subsidy is also from taxpayers’ money. No Ulema has given any fatwa stating that travelling through subsidy is not allowed. There are poor people who desire to go, and they should be given subsidy.”