The Maharashtra government told the Bombay high court on Friday that it has not taken a decision whether or not to allow casinos in the state.
A division bench of Justice VM Kanade and Justice Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi heard a public interest litigation (PIL) by Jay Sayta, stating that in 1976, the Maharashtra Casinos (Control and Tax) Act, 1976 was enacted but never notified. The court had sought the government’s reply.
The government’s advocate informed the court that no decision has been taken. The judges then remarked that it is purely an executive decision whether or not the goverment wants to implement the Act passed nearly 40 years ago.
They directed the state government to take an appropriate decision within a reasonable time. The bench disposed of the PIL granting liberty to the petitoner to move court if aggrieved by the decision taken.