Sunburn Klassique suffers setback at HC

Team Herald

PANJIM: In a major blow to the organizers of Sunburn Klassique, the Bombay High Court (HC) at Goa on Friday, issued directions for the removal of all the structures, put up for hosting the upcoming Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival as it doesn’t have the requisite No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the village panchayat of Anjuna for conducting the event.

The division bench of Justices M S Sonak and M S Jawalkar also directed that the permission for the music event will be effective only after the organisers deposits Rs 2.25 crore security with the department of tourism. It also asked the panchayat to consider the NOC application only after the land is restored in its original condition. 

During the hearing on a PIL, the bench expressed concern and surprise that arrangements at survey number 206/1 began in absence of the mandatory NOC and that despite directions to seek NOC, the preparations were underway in full swing. 

On December 18, the Court had been informed that the organizers did not apply with the local panchayat for permission to set up either the permanent or temporary structures at Vagator, where the event is slated to be held from December 27 to 29. It had then directed the local authorities to stall the festival if the organizers fail to pay Rs 18.12 lakh fees to the Communidade of Anjuna. 

On Friday, the Court slammed the organizers for going ahead with the construction of temporary structures for the event, ignoring the stay order. 

It directed the removal of all the structures put up till date and then to apply for the NOC with the local panchayat. The Court also said that if the organizers don’t remove the structures then the panchayat, with the help of the police, will do the same. 

“Law is equal for everyone. Big players can’t get leniency from the court,” the Bench mentioned. 

The Court also came down heavily on the organizers of EDM for resorting to tactics to avoid payment of dues to the government. It directed the organizers to deposit Rs 1.5 crore as security deposit for hosting the event for the current year and also another Rs 75 lakhs as security against the pending dues of Rs 1.38 crore.

“Permissions for the event will be effective only after the deposit of Rs 2.25 crore,” the Court ruled and further directed that the amount should be deposited with the tourism department. ­­­The matter will be next heard on January 6, 2020.