The Bombay High Court’s Goa bench has temporarily stopped a large casino vessel from entering the Mandovi river, ruling that the ship cannot sail into Panaji port until it secures mandatory certifications and receives approval from the court.

The interim order was issued on May 6 by a division bench comprising Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit S. Jamsandekar while hearing a public interest litigation filed by members of the “Enough Is Enough Movement.” The petition was brought by Goan freedom fighter Libia Lobo Sardesai, writer Uday Bhembre, and activists Sudeep Tamankar and Harish Madkaikar.

The dispute centers on Delta Pleasure Cruise Company Pvt Ltd’s proposal to replace its existing offshore casino vessel, M.V. Royale Flotel, with the much larger M.V. Deltin Royale. The current vessel is licensed for 70 passengers, while the proposed replacement can accommodate more than 2,000 people.

In its order, the court noted that the vessel did not yet possess a certificate of survey, according to Telegraph India. The bench stated, “Considering that as of today the vessel does not possess a certificate of survey, we deem it appropriate to direct that the vessel in question shall not sail into the Panji Port, that is the River Mandovi, without obtaining all the required certifications.”

The judges added, “Further, even if such certificates and requirements of sailing of the vessel into the Panaji Port are obtained, the vessel shall not sail into the Port without prior permission from this court.”

Petition Raises Concerns Over River Ecology

Opposition to the vessel has grown among residents and environmental groups in Goa, particularly in Panaji and surrounding areas near the Mandovi river. Petitioners argued that the incoming casino ship’s scale could affect the river ecosystem, disrupt fishing activity, and create navigational difficulties.

The proposed vessel measures 112 metres in length and 28 metres in width. According to the petitioners, its passenger capacity exceeds the combined capacity of the six offshore casino vessels currently operating on the Mandovi.

Environmental campaigners also questioned whether the Goa Gambling Act permits an automatic replacement of one casino vessel with another of significantly larger size. They argued that the new ship would require a fresh license because gaming permissions are connected to passenger capacity limits.

Court filings referred to concerns allegedly raised earlier by port authorities. Environmentalists claimed the captain and secretary of ports had warned that the ship “may create further navigational hazards [and] create a bottleneck at mooring positions”.

Father Bolmax Pereira from the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman’s Commission for Ecology supported the court’s intervention. He said, “The casino vessel debate is not an isolated controversy, but part of a wider ecological awakening in Goa.”

Pereira also described the issue as “symbolic of a larger pattern of unsustainable development in ecologically fragile zones”.

Government Assures Court on Future Permissions

During proceedings, the Goa government informed the court that any decision allowing casino operations on the new vessel would first be presented before the bench before approval is granted.

The court recorded the government’s assurance that the license issued to M.V. Royale Flotel would not be amended in favor of M.V. Deltin Royale without informing the court in advance.

Lawyers representing Delta Pleasure Cruise Company stated that the vessel is currently berthed at Mormugao Port Trust and is not expected to enter the Mandovi river before the monsoon season begins.

The bench also directed that if the state government later chooses to permit casino operations aboard the vessel, officials must first place that decision before the court.

Goa currently hosts 13 casinos, including seven land-based operations and six offshore vessels. The casino industry remains a significant source of revenue for the state government. According to figures cited in reports, Goa collected ₹353.78 crore from casinos during 2022-23. Revenue rose to ₹603.76 crore in 2023-24 before falling to ₹461.71 crore in the 2024-25 financial year.

Next Hearing Scheduled for July

The court has listed the matter for further hearing on July 6, when arguments from the petitioners, the Goa government, and Delta Pleasure Cruise Company are expected to continue.

The case has also renewed debate over offshore casinos in Goa. In March, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the state government does not plan to issue licenses for new offshore casinos.