Prior court nod, mandatory clearances made compulsory; slams govt for defending ‘dead cargo’
The 112-metre Deltin casino vessel docked at Mormugao Port.
PANAJI
In a firm assertion of regulatory control, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday directed that no new offshore casino vessel shall enter or operate in the Mandovi River without its prior permission.
“The vessel does not possess a certificate of survey as of today. In view of this, we deem it appropriate that it shall not sail in the River Mandovi without first obtaining the requisite certificates and permissions, and in any event, not without the prior permission of this court,” the Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar said after hearing the matter challenging the new casino Deltin, over three days.
The court further ruled that if the Goa government proposes to permit casino operations for the new vessel, it must place its decision before the court prior to issuing any order. It also made clear that any amendment to an existing licence – to shift from the 70-passenger capacity MV Royale Floatel to the new vessel – cannot be effected without prior leave of the court. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 6 at 2.30 pm.
During the hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam submitted that the vessel was fit for sailing and carrying on trade. The Bench, however, questioned the claim, noting that the operators themselves had brought the vessel as “dead cargo”. “Captain of Ports is defending this?” the court asked.
When Pangam said the assessment was based on a report, the bench pressed further, “Have you obtained the certificate?” while pointing out that the certificate of survey had not yet been issued.
Pangam responded that the government would consider whether to grant the certificate and that the court could pass appropriate directions. He also relied on a report by a Central-registered society about a vessel constructed in accordance with rules and sea trials completed. “I have nothing to say if restraints are imposed by this Court,” he added.
Petitioner ‘Enough is Enough’ informed the court that the licence of the existing casino vessel is due to expire in July. Counsel for the casino operator, meanwhile, assured the bench that the new offshore vessel would not be brought into the Mandovi until the next hearing. The respondent company stated that the vessel is currently berthed at Mormugao Port.
Earlier in the day, the 112-metre Deltin casino vessel arrived in Goa and was docked at Berth No. 4 of the Mormugao Port Authority. It is expected to remain there for about a month for repairs, documentation and sea clearance procedures. The vessel, with a capacity of around 2000 passengers, will eventually replace Deltin’s Kings Casino operating in the Mandovi.
According to the shipping agent, certification and sea trials are expected to be completed within a month.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “I will make it clear once again that we will not bring a new casino,” referring to the mega casino vessel at Mormugao Port.
