Kondotty: Kerala state executive hajj executive officer P M Hameed was removed from the post without renewing his deputation. The development comes at a time when the preparations for the hajj pilgrimage in the state have entered its final phase. Hameed was appointed to the post in February 2023.

P M Hameed has been newly appointed to the chief executive post at the state madrasa education welfare fund board. Meanwhile, the responsibilities of the executive officer of the Hajj committee has been handed over to the Malappuram collector.

If reports are to be believed, issues surrounding the return of Hajj pilgrims last year has eventually resulted in Hameed’s eviction from the post. Not all those who applied for permission to enter inside the airport to welcome the Hajj returnees were granted approval. A few officials of the Hajj house were apparently miffed over the incident.

A complaint was lodged against Hameed by a section of the people in connection with the poor behaviour of officials towards the pilgrims. On the basis of the allegation, the Hajj committee appointed an investigation council. 

Hameed’s tenure wasn’t extended taking into consideration a letter submitted by the Hajj committee chairman.          

Impressive work

Hammed is known as the officer who brought about financial discipline in the Hajj camp. Earlier, the official matters of the Hajj house was controlled by assistant secretary. 

For example, in the year 2022, the food expenditure of the Hajj camp in which 5,700 pilgrims had boarded flights from Nedumabasserry stood at Rs 65 lakhs. However, the prices had come down drastically last year, as the total food expenditure for a 11,556-member Hajj camp was only Rs 52 lakhs! Inviting tender for cooking the food helped in reducing the prices by almost half.

Similarly, while price for laying ‘pandal’ at the Karipur Hajj camp stood at Rs 9 lakhs in 2019, last year it was just Rs 5.1 lakhs. The contract for the same was awarded for almost Rs 4.5 lakhs.

Last year, an additional Rs 60,000 was spent owing to certain rain related issues. Hameed with such an impressive track record has now suddenly been removed from the post.