Question

Consider the following statements:
I. In a recent Supreme Court verdict pronounced by Justice Markandeya Katju and Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra, the court upheld the constitutionality of the Haj subsidy
II. Muslims are not the only beneficiaries of the secular state's generosity. Hindus have also received substantial financial support from the Government
With reference to the statements mentioned above, which of the following is correct?

• A. I only
• B. II only
• C. Both I and II
• D. Neither I nor II

Hint:

Recall what the 2012 Haj subsidy judgment actually directed. The court ordered the subsidy phased out within ten years rather than approving it.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
Two statements are made about the Supreme Court's Haj subsidy decision of 2012. We must check each against what the court actually did and said.

Step 2: The decision being referred to:
The case is Union of India v. Rafique Shaikh Bhikan, decided in 2012 by a bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. The judgment held that the Haj subsidy should be progressively reduced and done away with entirely within ten years, and that the money would be better spent on the education and social development of the community.

Step 3: Testing statement I:
Statement I says the court upheld the constitutionality of the Haj subsidy. The court did not do that. It directed the subsidy to be phased out over a decade. A direction to abolish a benefit is not an endorsement of it. So statement I is not correct.

Step 4: Testing statement II:
Statement II says Muslims are not the only beneficiaries of the secular State's generosity and that Hindus have also received substantial financial support from the Government. This reflects what was said in the discussion around the case, where the point was made that governments also subsidise the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and support other pilgrimages and religious institutions. The State's spending on pilgrimage is not confined to one community. So statement II is correct.

Step 5: Why the other options fail:
Option (A), I only, keeps the false statement and drops the true one.
Option (C), Both I and II, is wrong because statement I misdescribes the ruling.
Option (D), Neither I nor II, is wrong because statement II is a fair statement of the position.

Final Answer:
Only statement II is correct, so the answer is option (B).