By TCN Staff Reporter,
Patna: From now on, even at the time of initial application for Haj you must possess a valid international passport or at least file reference number. Applications without reference no of passport will not be entertained for Haj 2011. An announcement to the effect has been made by the Bihar Haj Committee.
Iftikhar Hassan, Chief Executive Officer of Bihar Haj Committee, informed that at the meeting of Haj Committee of India held on 22 Dec. 2010 in New Delhi it was decided that only those who have international passport or already applied for that and have file reference numbers, can file registration for Haj 2011.
Talking to TwoCircles.net, Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi, Chairman of Bihar Haj Committee, confirmed the new rule and appealed to Haj aspirants from the state to apply for passport as early as possible if they don’t have one.
Notably, last year also international passport was compulsory to go on Haj trip but one was allowed to submit passport or file reference number of his passport application at the time of filling up the final form after their name was selected. However, this year possessing passport or file reference number has been made mandatory at the time of initial registration.
Though Bihar Haj Committee has a quota of 10 thousand Hajis, it sent 6000 pilgrims in 2009 while 5500 pilgrims in 2010. The rest seats were distributed among other states. The new strict rule may further reduce the number of Hajis from the state. The Haj operation for 2011 has not yet formally begun.