Goa’s legal dispute over the entry of a new offshore casino vessel into the Mandovi River will continue after the Bombay High Court in India extended its interim stay until the next hearing on 18 August. The court also allowed petitioner Enough is Enough two weeks to file a rejoinder to the affidavit submitted by the casino company, keeping the vessel out of Panaji Port while the case remains under judicial review.
Court keeps restrictions in place
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court adjourned the matter to 18 August and confirmed that its earlier interim order will remain in force until then. The civic group Enough is Enough, which filed the petition, was granted additional time to respond to the casino company’s affidavit, according to The Times of India.
The dispute centres on whether the new casino vessel can enter the Mandovi River and operate from Panaji Port. Until the court decides the matter, the vessel cannot sail into the river under the existing interim directions.
The court had previously directed that the vessel must not enter Panaji Port without obtaining all statutory certifications. It also ruled that even after securing those approvals, the vessel would still require prior permission from the court before entering the port.
Certification remains a key issue
The case continues to focus on whether the vessel has complied with all legal and technical requirements needed for operation.
In its order issued on 6 May, the High Court noted that the vessel did not possess a certificate of survey. The certificate is one of the documents used to establish that a vessel meets applicable safety and regulatory standards before operating.
The court permitted the casino company to file an application placing on record all permissions and certifications required under either the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, or the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, depending on which law applies to the vessel. The court said those documents would need to be examined before any further decision on the vessel’s entry into Panaji Port.
Legal challenge
The public interest litigation was filed by Enough is Enough, a Goa-based citizens’ movement that has opposed the expansion of offshore casinos in the state. The group has raised concerns about the environmental impact of additional casino operations on the Mandovi River and has questioned the regulatory process followed for the proposed vessel.
The vessel at the centre of the dispute is intended to replace an existing offshore casino vessel operating under licence in the Mandovi River. According to reports placed before the court, the new vessel has a significantly larger passenger capacity than the current one, making its proposed deployment a key issue in the ongoing litigation.
Following the High Court’s interim order in May, the petitioners also filed a caveat before the Supreme Court to ensure they would be heard if any appeal against the High Court’s directions was filed. The legal proceedings have since continued before the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court.
The next stage of the case is scheduled for 18 August, when the High Court is expected to review the rejoinder filed by the petitioner and consider the documents submitted by the casino company before deciding on further directions.
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