PANAJI
The casino company behind the new high-capacity offshore casino vessel proposed to operate in Mandovi River on Tuesday informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that the State government has renewed the licence.
The submission was made during the hearing of a petition filed by Enough is Enough and others challenging the entry and operation of the offshore casino vessel MV Royale Flotel in the Mandovi River. The company further sought to place the renewed licence on record, following which the petitioners submitted it would challenge this grant of licence. The High Court permitted them to amend their petition accordingly. The matter has now been posted for further hearing on September 29, with the Court clarifying that its interim directions will continue till further orders.
On May 6, the Bench observed that the vessel did not possess the mandatory certificate of survey. It then ruled that it cannot sail in the Mandovi River unless it first obtained all requisite certificates and permissions and, in any case, secured prior permission from the Court. The Bench had further directed that if the Goa government intended to permit casino operations on the new vessel, the decision must first be placed before the Court. It had also held that any amendment to the existing licence replacing the 70-passenger MV Royale Flotel with the new vessel could not be effected without the Court's prior leave.
