Casino operators in Goa recently challenged the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) order to remove the advertisement hoardings. And in the latest development to the same, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has instructed the Union Territory’s government to effectively take decisions over these petitions that have been filed.
On Friday, June 16, when a suo motu writ case from 2007 was being heard, the Court added the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority as a party to respond about the status of hoardings placed along the bank of the River Mandovi at Betim.
The CCP in its statement claimed that casino operators had challenged the government’s decision for the removal of the hoardings after receiving 61 letters. The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court then requested that the government make a decision as soon as possible.
According to a report published by The Goan Since the hoardings are in violation of the rules, Advocate General Devidas Pangam asserted that decisions regarding the same will be taken swiftly.
The High Court had asked municipalities to provide information about the illegal hoardings and the measures taken to remove them during the previous hearing. Mapusa Municipality along with few others requested more time to provide the information, to which the court agreed.
The court also gave the 15-member committee a three-month extension to develop policies to control and decide how licenses are provided, while also keeping track of hoardings around the UT. The group was established by the government.
Casino ad hoardings were covered during the G20 Summit meet in Goa
These rampant casino ads were also covered during the G20 summit in Goa, when all the casino ad hoardings were spotted covered with cloth pieces. Controversy between several politicians also sparked, with Goa Pradesh Youth Congress President Joel Andrade asking why has the government covered the adverts.
Former Panaji Mayor Surendra Furtado said this was done in order to prevent the G20 delegates from seeing the influence of the casinos on the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led administration.