Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused
to grant interim relief in the form of tax exemption to the
Mehli Mehta Music Foundation, which is organising a concert by
world-renowned musician Zubin Mehta in the city.
Division bench of Justices D K Deshmukh and K K Tated
directed the organisers to pay the entertainment tax, and said
the money could be refunded if they could prove in court
eventually that the Foundation was eligible for exemption.
The organisers had argued that as per the government
resolution of 1973, all western classical performances are
exempted from entertainment tax.
The state government however said that as per the amended
Entertainment Tax Act, the organisers would have to pay up,
since the tickets for the concert cost more than Rs 100
a piece.
The court today refused to grant interim relief and
directed the Foundation to pay the tax, which would be
refunded if the petition is decided in its favour.
The concert is scheduled for March 30 and 31, at the
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre and will feature Mehta, and Maggio
Musicale Florentino Orchestra.
PTI
