ISLAMABAD: India’s third largest state Maharashtra has appointed a non-Muslim bureaucrat as chief executive officer of the state Hajj committee, sparking sharp criticism, with Muslim leaders and activists calling the move insensitive, legally questionable and dismissive of minority religious concerns.
According to Indian media reports, IAS officer Manoj Jadhav has taken charge as CEO of the Maharashtra State Hajj Committee, becoming the first non-Muslim to head the body responsible for managing Hajj arrangements for thousands of pilgrims from the state.
The appointment has triggered unease within the Muslim community, which views the decision as undermining the religious character of an institution tasked with overseeing one of Islam’s most sacred obligations.
Critics argue that while administrative competence is important, the Hajj is not a routine government program but a deeply religious act, governed by strict rituals, sensitivities and theological requirements.
The appointment has also drawn legal objections. Several voices on social media have argued that the move violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the Hajj Committee Act, 2002, which envisages Muslim representation in bodies managing Hajj affairs. Critics say turning a sacred religious duty into what they describe as a “political experiment” erodes trust in state institutions meant to serve minority communities.
On social media, the backlash has been fierce. Advocate Rukhsana Sayed questioned how a non-Muslim could understand Muslim religious requirements, drawing parallels with the impossibility of Muslims being appointed to Hindu religious trusts.
Dr J Aslam Basha, a member of the All-India Congress Committee, termed the appointment “illegal and unconstitutional,” calling it a direct violation of the Hajj Committee Act. Other users pointed out that this was the first such appointment in Maharashtra’s history and asked why there was silence from political leaders who claim to represent Muslim interests.
The Maharashtra State Hajj Committee plays a key role in implementing the quota allocated by Saudi Arabia and facilitating travel, accommodation and welfare for pilgrims. According to official data, over 122,000 Indians performed Hajj last year, with the majority travelling under arrangements managed by government committees.
