Mumbai, January 20 (). Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the alleged illegal appointment of the Chief Executive Officer in the Maharashtra State Haj Committee.
While sharing the copy of the letter on X, Abu Azmi wrote that I demand from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that immediate cognizance should be taken of the alleged illegal appointment of the Chief Executive Officer in Maharashtra State Haj Committee. This topic is related to law, constitution and rights of minority institutions. Correct system should be ensured by taking appropriate action.
In the letter, Abu Azmi pointed to the appointment of Manoj Jadhav as the executive officer of the Maharashtra State Haj Committee, saying it appeared to be illegal, without jurisdiction, and in violation of the legal framework governing the Haj Committee. The Maharashtra State Haj Committee is constituted under a Muslim-centric legal scheme designed to ensure that its administration, policy making and functioning are in accordance with Islamic law, religious customs and essential requirements of the Haj pilgrimage.
The Act clearly contemplates that leadership and the necessary administrative control should be vested in Muslim representatives selected from among the committee members who are conversant with Islamic religious responsibilities and the specific needs of the community. The appointment of a non-Muslim officer as Executive Officer is a flagrant violation of the intent, spirit and letter of the Act, and results in an abuse of power contrary to law. Such an appointment also raises serious constitutional concerns and appears to violate the protections afforded under Articles 14, 15(1), 25(1), and 26(a)-(b) of the Constitution of India, which protect equality, freedom of religion, and the right of religious groups to manage their own affairs.
Furthermore, legally binding precedents have consistently emphasized that religious and minority institutions must be governed by their legal and constitutional protections. There should be no government interference in this. The SP leader has demanded through the letter that the appointment of Manoj Jadhav as the Executive Officer of the Maharashtra State Haj Committee should be canceled and a genuine Muslim representative should be appointed from among the elected committee members as per the Act and its legal authority.
Abu Azmi said that I have full confidence that under your capable leadership, justice will be done according to law, constitutional values and minority rights.
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DKM/DKP
