Court In Kashmir Says Hajj Travel Is Protected Fundamental Right

In Indian Kashmir, a High Court judge has ruled that the State Hajj Committee wrongly denied travel documents to ten individuals attempting to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this year. According to a report published yesterday by Greater Kashmir, a pilgrim pass was denied to 40 individuals, but only ten sued. The denials were based on reports of past arrests or of anti-national activities. The court said, however: "Haj for Muslim is an essential and integral part of the religion forming one of the five pillars of Islam. It can safely be concluded that withholding of the pilgrim pass ... amounts to infringement of fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution of India...." Art. 25 of India's Constitution guarantees the right to freely practice one's religion. Even though the last flight to Jeddah left two days before the court's decision, the court ordered the government to arrange for plaintiffs' travel.