Tour operators move court against new eligibility norms

Tour operators across the country have moved a petition in the Bombay High Court against the recently amended eligibility norms for running a tour agency.

The All-India Haj Umrah Tour Organisers (AIHUTOA),which moved the petition,said private tour operators catered to 47,000 of the 1.7 lakh Haj pilgrims from India. The notification,issued on July 15,had affected 170-odd tour operators. “According to the new norms,a tour operator should have an office of at least 250 sq ft carpet area. Which other profession has such norms for its operation? It’s bizarre and shows a clear bias towards the community,” said advocate Mubin Solkar who represents the group.

The data made available by the association said the 170 tour operators,who stand to lose their source of income through this notification,catered to over 10,000 Haj pilgrims. Tour operators from across the country had gathered in Mumbai on Friday.

The association said the norms would adversely affect Haj pilgrims also,who are scheduled to begin their pilgrimmage from September 29. “The operators have already made bookings and arrangements,for which nearly Rs 50 crore has already been remitted.”