Govt seeks legal opinion on certificates issued to hotels

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-01-04
PANAJI- Highly placed sources in the state administration said that the government sought opinion on the certificates issued by the director of Tourism, Mr Elvis Gomes, to two hotels.
The Home Department had sought a legal opinion after the application was made by the hoteliers to install and operate games of electronic amusement/slot machine within their premises on obtaining the certificates.
Meanwhile, Mr Gomes has defended his action and said that he has not deviated from laid down norms while issuing the certificate to the hotels. He said that he exercised power vested in him under government notification 2-20-92-HD (G), dated November 23, 1995, issued by the Home Department.
The notification states that five star hotel for the purpose of section 13A of the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976, shall mean a hotel certified as such by an authority competent to classify hotels in the government of India or certified to be a five star hotel for this purpose by the director, department of tourism of the state government.
The Vigilance Secretary, Mr V K Jha on Saturday said that he has submitted the report with regards to enquiry conducted against Mr Gomes with regards to the issue of certificates to two hotels to enable them to apply for licences to install and operate games of electronic amusement/slot machine, to the Chief Secretary, Mr J P Singh.
Mr Jha, however, refused to divulge his findings and said that he has given the report based on his findings. The enquiry was conducted after the Tourism Minister, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco raised the issue and demanded that the whole matter with regards to issue of certificate be probed by the vigilance department.