Maharashtra government directed to decide on implementation of Casinos Act within six months

The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to take a reasoned stand o💙n whether it intends to implement a four decade old legislation, the Maharashtra Casinos (Control & Tax) Act, 1976 within six months in response to a Public Interest 💧Litigation (PIL).

A division bench of the High Court comprising of Justices VM Kanade and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi while disposing off a PIL filed for implementation of the M🎐aharashtra C♓asinos (Control & Tax) Act, 1976- in termsꦇ of petitioner Jay Sayta’s prayer no. (b) noted that the petitioner was at liberty to approach the court with a fresh petition in case he was not satisfied with the state governments efforts.

The PIL was filed as non-implementation of the will of the legislature due to executive oversight or inaction is a matter of grave concern and goes against the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers and legislative supremacy.The government is expected to comp♏ly with the order of the High Court and expeditiously decides as to whether it will implement the Maharashtra Casinos (Control & Tax) Act, 1976; failing which it will be open for the petitioner to file a fresh petition (including contempt petition) against the state government.

M✤ihir Desai, Senior Counsel and Gaurav Mehta, 𒉰Advocate appeared for the petitioner and were briefed by solicitor Anirudh Hariani of Hariani & Co.