Andhra Pradesh High Court stays funding of Christian pilgrims

Government-allocated travel subsidy for Christian pilgrims to Israel was Wednesday halted by the High Court in Andhra Pradesh.

The HC directed a stay on the government order that provided partial funding for Christian pilgrims yearning to visit biblical sites associated with the life of Jesus Christ.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice A.R. Dave ruled that the government couldn't spend public money for any pilgrimage tours.

The HC was responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that challenged the state order that announced an assistance of Rs 20,000 to every Christian pilgrim touring the holy places.

The petitioner argued that in a secular state the government had no right to fund religious pilgrimages. The 2008-09 Budget had apparently allocated 20 million rupees for the Christian pilgrimage.

The petitioners contended that the Article 27 of the Constitution prohibits collection of taxes for religious purposes.

According to the state order issued by the Minorities Welfare department last year, each pilgrim will have to pay Rs. 36,000 of Rs. 56,000 that covers all Jordan and Israel for seven days. This includes food, accommodation and transport.

The first batch of 51 pilgrims had visited Israel last November.

The stay by the High Court has come just days after Andhra Pradesh Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohd Ahmadulla Syed promised 'Jerusalem House' identical to the already existing Haj House.

The initiative was to facilitate the travel of Christians to Israel. Jerusalem House was to act as an embarkation point for pilgrims and also make arrangements for their lodging, immigration and other passenger amenities.