PANJIM: Casinos operating in River Mandovi have violated the Goa, Daman & Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976, social activist Kashinath Shetye states in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Shetye in his petition has contended that as per the Act table gaming and gaming on board is permitted in an offshore vessel, and not in vessels in the inland waters. “The mandate to permit live gaming only in vessel offshore cannot be flouted by the State government and its officials by permitting such live gaming in vessels stationed in the inland waters of the State,” the petition states referring to Section 13A of the Act.
The petition brings to the notice of the court that the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulations) Act, 2002 has also been violated. As per Section 4(n) of the Act ‘offshore area’ means territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zone of India under the territorial water, continental shelf, EOZ and other maritime zone Act, 1976.
Shetye contended that sub section (2) of Section 3 of the Act of 1976 stipulates that the limit of the territorial waters of India is the line which is at a distance of twelve nautical miles from the nearest point of the appropriate baseline.
Shetye said that casino vessels should be at the distance of 12 nautical miles if they want to have live gaming. The location of such vessels and the operation of such games are against the law of the land, Shetye claimed.
He also brought to the notice of the court that no offshore casinos and any hotel business can come up in CRZ and in NDZ areas. He said that none of the vessels have CRZ clearance which itself violates very serious environmental laws. The next hearing is fixed on October 4.
Herald Goa News
Shetye in his petition has contended that as per the Act table gaming and gaming on board is permitted in an offshore vessel, and not in vessels in the inland waters. “The mandate to permit live gaming only in vessel offshore cannot be flouted by the State government and its officials by permitting such live gaming in vessels stationed in the inland waters of the State,” the petition states referring to Section 13A of the Act.
The petition brings to the notice of the court that the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulations) Act, 2002 has also been violated. As per Section 4(n) of the Act ‘offshore area’ means territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zone of India under the territorial water, continental shelf, EOZ and other maritime zone Act, 1976.
Shetye contended that sub section (2) of Section 3 of the Act of 1976 stipulates that the limit of the territorial waters of India is the line which is at a distance of twelve nautical miles from the nearest point of the appropriate baseline.
Shetye said that casino vessels should be at the distance of 12 nautical miles if they want to have live gaming. The location of such vessels and the operation of such games are against the law of the land, Shetye claimed.
He also brought to the notice of the court that no offshore casinos and any hotel business can come up in CRZ and in NDZ areas. He said that none of the vessels have CRZ clearance which itself violates very serious environmental laws. The next hearing is fixed on October 4.
Herald Goa News
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