Team Herald
PANJIM: High Court has permitted the organisers of Goafest 2019 to serve liquor beyond 11 pm until 1.30 am only at the venue of the event at a resort in North Goa.
Goafest organisers had approached the High Court in view of the restrictions on serving alcohol during the imposition of model code of conduct, wherein liquor cannot be served after 11 in the night.
Adv Nitin Sardesai, counsel for Goafest organisers informed Herald that the dates of the event were announced in April 2018 which is one year prior to the announcement of the election dates.
“The invitations were out to the dignitaries from advertising industry, the sports fraternity, Bollywood and others in January and the dates were announced much later. In addition the organisers had already invested more than Rs 3.5 crores. The High Court took all these aspects into consideration and permitted a relaxation,” he added.
Nitin further said that the organisers have assured the Court that there would be no political speeches made during the event. “There won’t be any lure of voters and the entire function will be video-graphed. In addition, the Election Commission can depute two of its officers to go and supervise it at any point of time to see if there is any violation of the election code”, he added.
Nitin further informed that the event would begin on April 11 and conclude on April 13, however, as per the directions of the High Court the permission is granted until 1.30 am on April 14.
