Goa Tourism issues notice to Yuvraj over villa

The Goa tourism department has issued a notice to cricketer Yuvraj Singh for putting up his villa in Morjim for homestay online without registering it with relevant authorities in the state.

The former India all-rounder has been called in for a hearing on December 8.

Registration of a homestay with the tourism department is mandated under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982.

Yuvraj’s villa is named ‘Casa Singh’.

In the November 18 notice addressed to ‘Casa Singh’, located at Morjim in North Goa, Deputy Director of Tourism Rajesh Kale directed Yuvraj to appear before him on December 8 at 11 am for personal hearing in the matter.

The notice asks the 40-year-old cricketer why penal action (a fine up to Rs one lakh) should not be initiated against him for not registering the property under the Tourist Trade Act.

"It has come to the notice of the undersigned that your residential premises located at Varchewada, Morjim, Pernem, Goa is allegedly functioning as a homestay and is being marked on online platforms like Airbnb," said the notice.

The department has also quoted a tweet by Singh wherein he has said he would be hosting an exclusive stay at his Goa home for a group of six, only on @Airbnb.

The notice issued by the department stated that “every person intending to operate a Hotel/Guest House before operating it, has to apply for registration to the Prescribed Authority in the Prescribed manner.”

“Therefore, a notice is hereby given to you as to why penal action should not be initiated against you for default in registration under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982,” it said.

Asking Singh to appear for hearing, the officer has said if no reply is received within the said date (December 8), "it will be assumed that the grounds mentioned in the notice are correct and on such assumption under Section 22 or in violation of any of the provisions of the Act, you shall be punishable with a fine which may extend up to Rs one lakh".