Mumbai’s political landscape heated up as Samajwadi Party prominent figure Abu Azmi fired off a letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis, slamming the appointment of non-Muslim Manoj Jadhav to head the Maharashtra Haj Committee as Executive Officer. Posted publicly on X, the missive calls for swift corrective action to restore legal order.
At its core, the dispute revolves around the Haj Committee’s statutory mandate. Established under a scheme tailored for Muslims, it ensures that Haj operations—from policy formulation to execution—respect Sharia principles and pilgrimage essentials. Azmi contends that installing a non-Muslim in a pivotal administrative post undermines this foundation, constituting an ultra vires act beyond legal authority.
He meticulously outlined how such a move defies the act’s intent for leadership to reside with knowledgeable Muslim committee members. This, Azmi warned, not only misuses power against the law but triggers constitutional violations under key articles guaranteeing equal protection, non-discrimination on religious grounds, freedom of religion, and denominational rights to administer institutions.
Judicial rulings have repeatedly affirmed that minority bodies deserve autonomy from state meddling, Azmi noted, bolstering his plea for revocation. The demand is clear: scrap the appointment and elevate a fitting Muslim from the elected ranks.
This isn’t just an administrative hiccup; it’s a flashpoint for larger issues of faith-based governance in secular India. As Fadnavis navigates coalition dynamics, Azmi’s outreach tests the government’s commitment to constitutional fidelity.
With full faith in the CM’s astute guidance, Azmi anticipates justice aligned with law and equity. The episode highlights persistent frictions in managing minority welfare committees, where tradition clashes with modern bureaucracy, keeping stakeholders on edge for the response.