By IANS
New Delhi : For the third time since 2006, the Supreme Court Monday asked the Allahabad High Court to rule on a long-pending plea against the Haj subsidy provided to Muslim pilgrims by the Indian government.
A bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan extended its 2006 ruling that had suspended the high court order asking the government to stop providing financial subsidy to pilgrims from any religion.
The bench, which also included Justices R.V. Raveendran and Dalveer Bhandari, directed the high court to decide the issue at the earliest.
On Aug 25, 2006, the Allahabad High Court, acting on a petition pending since 1995, ordered the government not to extend financial subsidy to any pilgrims, including those going on Haj.
The high court had imposed the ban with no government counsel present.
Soon afterwards, the central government moved the apex court challenging the interim order.
The apex court suspended the high court ruling till the completion of the next season of Haj pilgrims.
After the high court failed to decide the matter till May 2007, the central government approached the apex court again last year. The apex court then asked for early disposal of the matter.