Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has refused to grant any interim relief to the casino operators from paying annual recurring fees to the State government during the lockdown period.
The casino operators had approached the High Court praying to waive the annual recurring fees during the closure of casinos due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Though the Court admitted the writ petition, it declined to grant any interim relief to the petitioners from the payment of annual recurring fees. However, the Court asked the government not to insist upon recovery of 12 per cent penal interest on the recurring fees. The hearing in the matter has been completed and has now reserved it for orders.
The off-shore casino operators Delta Pleasure Cruises Company Pvt. Ltd, Delta Corp Limited, Golden Peace Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Golden Peace Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd, Goldfinch Resorts Pvt Ltd, Highstreet Cruises and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, Goa Coastal Resorts and Recreation Pvt Ltd, Goan Hotels and Realty Pvt Ltd and Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd had filed writ petitions seeking to waive annual recurring fees for the financial year 2020-2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic as the casinos remained closed.
They had earlier made representations to the State government seeking exemption from the payment of annual recurring fees for and to grant other concessions, relaxations etc as the casino operations were shut. However, the government had allowed them to pay the annual recurring fees amounting to crores to rupees on a pro-rate basis.
