Licence renewal: HC declines interim relief to casinos

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

The High Court of Bombay at Goa has denied interim relief to the petitioner Golden Globe Holels Pvt Ltd who has challenged increase in casino licence renewal fee.

The court had during the earlier hearing asked the state government to clarify on what steps it will take if the casinos do not pay licence fee by the deadline of April 27.

The state government had informed the High Court that the government will issue show cause notice to the company and action will follow if revised fee is not paid by April 27.

The Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd has challenged the Goa government’s latest decision to increase casino licence renewal fee. The government has asked the company to deposit the fee by April 27. The company in its petition has contended that earlier it was supposed to pay Rs 11 crore as fee for casino licence renewal. But, according to latest hike by Goa government, it has been asked to pay Rs 30 crore.

The company pleaded to allow to pay Rs 11 crore as of now and remaining Rs 19 crore in installments as interim relief, however the state government in reply

said that if an interim relief is granted to make part payment to the petitioner company, then other casino companies too will not make full payments, which would not be good for the state exchequer.

The state government informed the court that the notification is in effect for 15 casinos and an order by the court will have implications like heavy revenue loss to state.