Goa Assembly Passes Bill to Legalise Pre-2014 Homes on Govt Land

The Goa Legislative Assembly passed the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on July 31, 2025, offering a lifeline to landless Goans by regularising unauthorised houses built on government land before February 28, 2014. Tabled by Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate, the bill introduces Section 38A to the 1968 Goa Land Revenue Code, empowering deputy collectors to grant Class I occupancy rights to eligible applicants.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarified that the bill targets only Goan residents with at least 15 years of residency before the cut-off date, who own no other property or ancestral shares. The regularisation, subject to an occupancy price to be notified, caps eligible land at 400 square metres, including the house’s plinth and a two-meter buffer. Excess encroached land must be surrendered. Protected areas like forests, wildlife sanctuaries, coastal regulation zones, and Khazan wetlands are excluded.

Despite opposition concerns that non-Goans might benefit, Sawant assured stringent checks. Applicants must apply within six months of the Act’s notification, with deputy collectors tasked to resolve cases within another six months. Regularised properties face a 20-year sale or transfer ban, except for gifting to family members. False declarations risk cancellation, up to two years’ imprisonment, and fines up to ₹1 lakh.

Also Read: Goa Assembly Passes Bill to Simplify Court Suit Valuation

The bill, which aims to secure tenure for long-time residents while curbing large-scale encroachments, is expected to generate revenue through occupancy fees without imposing financial liabilities on the state. Local activists hailed the move as a step toward housing justice, though some fear loopholes could favor influential encroachers. The government plans awareness campaigns to ensure eligible Goans apply promptly.

Also Read: Goa’s Casino Cash Cow: ₹1,661 Crore Raked in Over Five Years