The four member HPC will be chaired by the former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court, Bilal Nazaki and consist of former Indian envoy to Saudi Arabia Ishrat Aziz, Begum Noor Bano of Rampur House and Director, Bombay Mercantile Cooperative Bank Mehmood Ur Rahman, The HPC will be serviced by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The terms of reference of the HPC will be (i) to review the functioning of the Hajj Committee of India (HCOI) and its various States/Union Territories’ units and (ii) to consider the suggestions or grievances made by those Committees with a view to improving their performance. The HPC will undertake its work and submit a report in 10 months’ time.

The Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had received the HPC delegation on October 09 and briefed them on the importance attached by the Government to the task entrusted to the HPC. Immediately after the briefing by Khurshid, the HPC met with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Chairman of the Hajj Committee of India to discuss its Action Plan and prepare a road map for expeditious completion of its task.

The High Powered Committee has also welcomed suggestions and ideas from interested members of the general public to improve the functioning of HCOI and States /UTs Hajj Committees with a view to make the Hajj pilgrimage an efficient and smooth process. Such ideas and suggestions may be sent by email to dirgulf at mea.gov.in or to dirhaj at mea.gov.in.