Unpaid dues no reason to deny nod for fresh event: Bombay HC

Mumbai: Bombay high court on Thursday directed the high power committee — constituted by the court to give permissions for all events held at Marine Drive — to freshly consider Procam International Ltd.’s application seeking permission to set up advertisement banners, medical centres, and a media centre at Marine Drive without prejudice.

Earlier in January, Procam organised the Standard Chartered Marathon for which BMC charged it Rs 2.74 crore in fees for advertisements and stalls at the event. According to the civic body, Procam hasn’t yet deposited the entire sum and on its part, Procam suspects this is the reason for the BMC to deny it permission for the latest powerboat racing event to be held from March 3 to 5. A division bench of Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Justice Prakash Naik was hearing the petition filed by Procam alleging that when the Mumbai marathon was held, the company set up advertising banners and stalls on streets however BMC charged it Rs 2.74 crore.

Senior counsel Vinit Naik who appeared for Procam argued that on February 22 when Procam organised a press conference announcing the powerboat competition at Gateway of India, BMC undid all arrangements for the conference saying that the company had not paid its marathon dues. Anil Sakhare, counsel for BMC, said that Marine Drive was a heritage precinct hence till the high power committee did not approve the programme, it could not be allowed.

After hearing both sides, the court directed the high power committee not to make pending dues of the Mumbai marathon grounds for denying permission for a fresh event by the same organisation.