Chandigarh 02 December 2023 - The 'Chief Minister's Pilgrimage Scheme' launched a few days ago by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has come under the scrutiny of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. RTI Activist Parvinder Singh Kitna, eminent lawyer HC. While hearing the public interest petition filed through Arora, a notice has been issued to the Punjab government by High Court. In the petition, the state government notified on 20 November 2023 and started the 'Chief Minister's Pilgrimage' on 27 November 2023 on the occasion of Guru Nanak Sahib's Prakash Purab. Under this scheme, there is a provision to run 13 trains in 13 weeks and to seat 1000 devotees in each train. To be transported and each bus will have 43 devotees. In this scheme, it is proposed to spend 40 crore rupees in just 13 weeks.

The petitioner has challenged the scheme on the ground that it is nothing but a huge waste of tax-payers' money which will not lead to any development or welfare. It had issued directions to stop the subsidy given to various members of the Muslim community for travel within ten years. The Supreme Court had also asked that the subsidy money be used more effectively for education and other social development activities can

During the hearing of the case today, a bench of Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta has issued a notice to the Punjab government and asked it to file an affidavit before the next hearing on December 12, 2023 to clarify how many people have asked the government to start such a pilgrimage scheme. The High Court bench also directed the government to explain why the free pilgrimage scheme was launched at government expense when the youth in the state are clamoring for jobs and employment.

It should be mentioned here that such a scheme was started by the Punjab government in 2017 as well, which was initiated by social activist Kuldeep Singh Khaira, advocate HC. The public interest petition filed through Arora itself was withdrawn by the then government at the time of hearing.

Petitioner Parvinder Singh Kitna says that the 'Chief Minister's Pilgrimage Scheme' is nothing more than a gimmick to secure votes as MLAs or MPs are on form for the pilgrimage. Recommendation and voter card number have also been sought.