Retired IAS officer (1979-batch) and Bihar resident Afzal Amanullah has been made convener of a committee set up by the Union minority affairs ministry to formulate a new Haj policy to improve arrangements for pilgrims.

A notification to this effect was issued on Tuesday.

The committee has been set up on the basis of a Supreme Court judgment, dated April 16, 2013, which examined some of the major issues concerning Government of India's Haj policy and approved Haj policy 2013-17 for Haj Committee of India and Policy for private tour operators. The Supreme Court had made the policy valid for five years and asked the Centre to frame the next five-year policy.

The committee will examine implications of various directions of the apex court with regard to existing policy and suggest suitable amends. It will also examine aspects of transparency, consumer satisfaction and disclosure requirements for private tour operators to protect Haj pilgrims' interests. It is expected to submit its report to the ministry within three months. "There are lots of misconceptions about Haj and the money the government spends on pilgrims," Amanullah told The Telegraph. "The committee hopes to clear all misconceptions... and ensure better facilities for the pilgrims."

Also on the panel are retired Justice S.S. Parkar, retired Bombay HC judge Qaiser Shamim, retired IRS and former Haj Committee chairman Kamal Faruqui, retired Air India CMD Michael Mascarenhas and joint secretary in-charge of Haj, ministry of minority affairs, J. Alam.