PANJIM: Directorate of Panchayat has stayed the order issued by Penha de Franca panchayat cancelling the trade license of Hotel Neo-Majestic in Porvorim for allegedly operating without required permission.

The panchayat on Monday had issued an order cancelling the trade licence of the hotel and directed Golden Peace Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd to stop the hotel business activity for allegedly operating without the required No Objection Certification (NOC) from them. 

The panchayat, in its order, stated that there are 98 rooms and the hotel is paying professional tax and other taxes only for 20 rooms. It also said that the hotel has not registered its activities under Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Act. 

However, within 24 hours, the company managed to get a stay on the order. 

Terming the order arbitrary, the company approached Directorate of Panchayat seeking stay on the order. 

Speaking to Herald, Panchayat Director Rajan Satardekar said the hotel had approached the Directorate stating that injustice has been done and no proper procedure was followed while issuing the order cancelling the licence. 

“The aggrieved party claimed that they were not served any show cause notice and hence were not given any opportunity to put up their say,” he said. 

Satardekar said an ex-parte stay has been granted and the panchayat is directed not to undertake any further action till the matter is decided by the directorate. “We will issue notice to the panchayat shortly and both parties will be heard before deciding on the matter,” he stated.