PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday declined to grant any interim relief to the Golden Globe Hotels Private Limited (GGHPL) in the casino fee hike.
The State government will issue show cause notice to the casino operators who fail to pay the recurring fees by April 27, which is the last date for payment, before cancelling their licences.
The Golden Globe Hotels Private Limited (GGHPL) had moved the High Court seeking directions to the government to reduce the exorbitant fee hike. The petitioner contended that government’s decision was without any intimation to the casino operators while also stating that a sudden surge could impact tourism in the State.
The petitioner, who has to pay Rs 30 crore as recurring fee as per new rates, had also sought an interim relief that he should be allowed to pay only Rs 11 crore, while the balance Rs 18 crore be paid in instalments. The petitioner contended that the casino owned by him was put to operation only from January, this year.
The Division bench comprising of Justice N M Jamdar and Justice Prithviraj Chauhan, however, declined to grant any interim relief stating that the notification issued is in general and not specific to one casino. Court also granted liberty to the State government to take action in case of failure to make payment.
Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande in his submission said that the casino operators who fail to pay their recurring fees by April 27, will be issued show cause notices and will be given opportunity to be heard before cancelling the licence. “Meanwhile, they can also file an appeal before the tribunal/ court,” the AG said.
