Team Herald
PANJIM: High Court has directed the Goa government to set a deadline for complete payment of the dues from Percept Live Pvt Ltd that has failed to pay dues to the government for hosting Sunburn Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival in the past.
The orders came even as the State government has retained Rs 2.28 crore approx from the sister company of the Percept Live Pvt Ltd.
The court also took a dig at the government for granting last minute approval to the festival, a common affair for the past several years.
While disposing of the Public Interest Litigation filed by Trajano D’Mello on Tuesday, the court has directed the state appellate authorities to decide within six months Percept Live’s challenge on the fees demanded by Goa government and observed that government should set a deadline for EDM organizers to clear dues of previous event.
During the last hearing on February 22, respondent Percept Live argued that its sister company Percept DMark had organized Lusofonia Games in the year 2014 and the government has till date withheld the fee amount of Rs 2.28 crore. This amount, the counsel submitted can be held by the government by adjusting it against the Sunburn dues. The division bench while accepting the submission had kept the right of respondent company open to challenge the dues that also comprises of charges towards commercial tax, police bandobast, etc.
The Sunburn organizers had earlier contended 25 percent tax levied on ‘complimentary tickets’ imposed by the government. It has also expressed disappointment over four-fold increase of fees charged by Goa Police for providing bandobast, without notice. For the police charges, the police department had also conceded that organizers had not paid the amount for 3-4 years.
After a gap of three years, the company however made a comeback through a Goan business and titled the event as Sunburn Klassique, which was held in Vagator last weekend.
The Opposition has often questioned the government for giving last minute approval to the festival.
