Goa Gazette, No. 2526-26, 01 October 2025

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Reg. No. RNP/GOA/32/2024-2026

RNI No. GOAENG/2002/6410

Panaji, ⁰¹st October, ²⁰²⁵ (Asvina ⁹, ¹⁹⁴⁷) SERIES I No. 26

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

EXTRAORDINARY

No. 3

GOVERNMENT OF GOA

Department of Law

Legal Affairs Division

Notification

7/29/2025-LA/143 Date : 01-Oct-2025 The Goa Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2025 (Goa Act 23 of 2025), which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 07/08/2025 and assented to by the Governor of Goa on 19/09/2025, is hereby published for the general information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

________

The Goa Shops and Establishments

(Regulation of Employment

and Conditions of Service)

Act, 2025

(Goa Act 23 of 2025)

AN

ACT

[19/09/2025] to provide for the regulation of conditions of employment and other conditions of service of workers employed in shops, commercial establishments, residential hotels, restaurants, eating houses, theatres, other places of public amusement or entertainment and other establishments and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

Suggestions are welcomed on e-mail: [email protected] 1259OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES I No. 26 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 3) 01ST OCTOBER, 2025

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, extent, application and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2025.

(2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Goa.

(3) The provisions of this Act, except section 7, shall apply to the establishments employing twenty or more workers and the provisions of section 7 shall apply to the establishments employing less than twenty workers.

(4) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) "Chief Facilitator" means the Chief Facilitator appointed as such under section 31 of this Act;

(b) "child" means a person who has not completed his fourteenth years of age;

(c) "commercial establishment" means any establishment which carries on any business, trade or profession or any work in connection with, or incidental or ancillary to, any business, trade or profession and includes,—

(i) a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Central Act XXI of 1860) or charitable or other trust, whether registered or not, which carries on, whether for purposes of gain or not, any business, trade or profession or work in connection with, or incidental or ancillary to, such business trade or profession;

(ii) an establishment of any medical practitioner (including hospital, dispensary, clinic, polyclinic, maternity home and such others), architect, engineer, accountant, tax consultant, insurance consultant or any other technical or professional consultant; and

(iii) any other establishment which the Government may notify to be a commercial establishment, but does not include a factory, shop, residential hotel, restaurant, eating house, theatre or other place of public amusement or entertainment.

(d) "day" means the period of twenty-four hours beginning at midnight;

(e) "employer" means a person owning or having ultimate control over the affairs of an establishment, and includes,—

(i) in the case of a firm or association of individuals, a partner or members of the firm or association;

(ii) in the case of a company, a director of the company;

(iii) in the case of an establishment owned or controlled by the Central Government or a State Government or any local authority, the person or persons appointed to manage the affairs of such establishment by the Central Government or the State Government or the local authority, as the case may be;

(iv) the manager, agent or other person acting in the general management or control of an establishment.

(f) "establishment" means a shop, commercial establishment, residential hotel, restaurant, eating house, theatre or other place of public amusement or entertainment, to which this Act applies and includes such other establishment as the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be an establishment for the purposes of this Act;

(g) "Facilitator-cum-Inspector" means a Facilitator-cum-Inspector appointed under Section 31 of this Act;

(h) "factory" means factory within the meaning of the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948);

(i) "Government" means the Government of Goa;

(j) "holiday" means a day on which a worker shall be given a weekly off under the provisions of this Act;

(k) "leave" means a leave provided for in Chapter V of this Act;

(l) "local area" means any area or combination of areas to which this Act applies;

(m) "local authority" means the Municipal Corporation of Panaji constituted under the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 (Goa Act 1 of 2003), Municipalities constituted under the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 (Act No. 16 of 1968), Panchayats constituted under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Goa Act 14 of 1994), The Goa Industrial Development Corporation constituted under the Goa Industrial Development Act, 1965 (Act No. 22 of 1965), the Authority constituted under the Goa (Mopa Airport Development Authority) Act, 2018 (Goa Act 10 of 2018), the Authority under the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 (Central Act No. 55 of 1994) and includes any other body which the Government may, by notification in the OfficialGazette, declare to be a local authority for the purposes of this Act;

(n) "manager" means a person mentioned in the application under section 6 of this Act;

(o) "member of the family of an employer" means the wife, husband, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister of an employer who lives with and is dependent on such employer;

(p) "opened" means opened for the service of any customer, or for any business of the establishment, or for work, by or with the help of any worker of, or connected with, the establishment;

(q) "period of work" means the time during which a worker is at the disposal of the employer;

(r) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(s) "prescribed authority" means the Commissioner of Labour for the purposes of this Act;

(t) "register of establishment" means a register maintained for the registration of establishments under this Act, either manually or in electronic format;

(u) "registration certificate" means a certificate of the registration of an establishment;

(v) "residential hotel" means any premises used for the reception of guests and travellers desirous of dwelling or sleeping therein and includes residential club;

(w) "restaurant or eating house" means any premises, in which, wholly or partially the business of the supply of meal or refreshments to the public or a class of the public for consumption on the premises is carried on, but does not include a restaurant attached to a theatre or restaurant or a canteen attached to a factory if the persons employed therein are allowed the benefits provided for workers under the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948);

(x) "shop" means any premises where goods are sold, either by retail or wholesale or where services are rendered to customers, and includes an office, a store-room, godown, warehouse or work place, whether in the same premises or otherwise, mainly used in connection with such trade or business, but does not include a factory;

(y) "spread over" means the period between the commencement and the termination of the work of a worker on any day;

(z) "theatre" includes any premises intended principally or wholly for the exhibition of pictures or other optical effects by means of a cinematograph or other suitable apparatus or for dramatic performances or for any other public amusement or entertainment;

(za) "wages" means wages as defined in the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (Central Act 4 of 1936);

(zb) "week" means the period of seven days beginning at midnight of Saturday;

(zc) "worker" means any person (except an apprentice under the Apprentices Act, 1961 (52 of 1961), employed to do any manual, unskilled, skilled, technical, operational or clerical work for hire or reward, whether the terms of employment be express or implied but does not include member of the family of an employer who is not in receipt of any wages;

(zd) "young person" means a person who is not a child but has not completed eighteen years of age.

3. Act not to apply to certain establishments and persons.— The provisions of this Act shall not apply to, —

(1) Establishments of the Central and State Government; and their agencies, statutory and autonomous bodies;

(2) Establishments of Local Authorities;

(3) Establishments used for treatment or care of infirm, destitute or mentally unfit;

(4) Establishments pertaining to any kind of educational activities excepting those where coaching or tuition classes are conducted by individual persons or any institutions other than those,—

a) affiliated to any university established by law; or

b) recognised by the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education under the Goa, Daman and Diu Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Act, 1975 (Goa Act No. 13 of 1975); or

c) recognised by the Directorate of Education or the Directorate of Technical Education as a secondary or technical high school, Industrial Training Institute (I.T.I.), Polytechnic, Engineering Colleges or other technical institutions conducting courses recognised by Government;

(5) A worker occupying position of confidential, managerial or supervisory character in an establishment, a list of which shall be displayed on the website of establishments and in absence of the website at a conspicuous place in the establishment and a copy thereof shall be sent to the Facilitators;

(6) A worker whose work is inherently intermittent;

(7) A member of the family of an employer;

(8) A worker in any establishment whose average monthly wages exceed rupees twenty four thousand;

(9) An establishment in bazaar or in places where fairs or festivals are held temporarily for a period not exceeding one month at a time.

4. Application of Act to other establishments and workers.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare any establishment or class of establishments to which, or any worker or person or class of workers or persons to whom, this Act or any of the provisions thereof does not for the time being apply, to be an establishment or class of establishments or a worker or a person or class of workers or persons to which or whom this Act or any provisions thereof with such modifications or adaptations as may in the opinion of the State Government be necessary shall apply from such date as may be specified in the notification.

(2) On such declaration under sub-section (1), any such establishment or class of establishments or such workers or person or class of workers or persons shall be deemed to be an establishment or class of establishments to which, or to be a worker or a person or class of workers or persons to whom, this Act, applies and all or any of the provision of this Act with such modification or adaptation as may be specified in such declaration, shall apply to such establishment or class of establishments or to such worker or persons or class of workers or persons.

5. Suspension of all or any of provisions of this Act.— The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, suspend the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act for such period and subject to such conditions as it deems fit on account of any holidays or occasions.

CHAPTER II

REGISTRATION OF ESTABLISHMENTS

6. Registration of establishments.— (1) Within a period of sixty days from the date of commencement of this Act or the date on which establishment commences its business, the employer of every establishment employing twenty or more workers shall submit application online in a prescribed form for registration to the Facilitator-cum-Inspector of the local area concerned, together with such fees and such self declaration and self-certified documents as may be prescribed, containing—

(a) the name of the employer and the manager, if any;

(b) the postal address of the establishment;

(c) the name, if any, of the establishment;

(d) the actual nature of the business of the establishment; and1262 OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES I No. 26 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 3) 01ST OCTOBER, 2025 (e) such other particulars as may be prescribed:

Provided that, nothing contained hereinabove shall apply to the establishments already having valid registration or renewal under the Goa Shops and Establishments Act, 1973 (Goa Act No. 13 of 1974), until expiry of their registration or renewal.

(2) On receipt of the application along with documents and the fees online, the Facilitator-cum-Inspector shall, register the establishment in the register of establishments in such manner as may be prescribed and shall issue online, in a prescribed form, a registration certificate along with the Labour Identification Number (LIN) to the employer within the period of seven working days upon verifying the correctness of the application and documents attached thereto. In case the application is incorrect or the documents submitted are incomplete or incorrect the same shall be rejected. The registration certificate shall be produced whenever it is demanded by the Facilitator-cum-Inspector.

(3) If the application is complete in all respect including the necessary documents and the Facilitator- cum-Inspector fails to register the establishment within the prescribed period specified in sub-section (2), such establishment shall be deemed to have been registered under this Act, immediately on the expiration of such period.

(4) A registration certificate granted under sub-section (2) shall be valid for such period as may be requested by the applicant and specified therein subject to a maximum period of five years. An application for the renewal of a registration certificate shall be submitted online not less than thirty days before the date of expiry of the registration certificate or of the renewed registration certificate, as the case may be, and shall be accompanied by such fees, and the renewed registration certificate shall be issued by the Facilitator-cum- Inspector within seven working days and the same shall be in such form, as may be prescribed.

(5) If the application for the renewal of a registration certificate is submitted after the expiry of the period specified in sub-section (3), such application shall be accompanied by an additional fee as late fee equal to half of the fee payable for the renewal of a registration certificate.

(6) If the Facilitator-cum-Inspector fails to renew the registration certificate within the prescribed period specified in sub-section (4), and the application is complete in all respect, such registration certificate shall be deemed to have been renewed under this Act, immediately on the expiration of such period.

(7) In the event of any doubt or difference of opinion between an employer and the Facilitator-cum- Inspector with respect to any provisions of this Act, the Facilitator-cum-Inspector shall refer the matter to the prescribed authority which shall, after inquiry as it thinks proper, decide the matter and its decision shall be final for the purposes of this Act.

7. Intimation of establishment employing less than twenty workers.— (1) Within a period of sixty days from the date of commencement of this Act or the date on which establishment commences its business, the employer of every establishment employing less than twenty workers shall give an intimation of having commenced the business by submitting online application as may be prescribed, containing details such as name of the employer and manager, name of establishment, nature of business, number of workers and such other details as may be prescribed:

Provided that, if at any point of time the number of workers engaged in the establishment become twenty or more, then all provisions of this Act shall apply to such establishment and the employer of such establishment shall have to obtain registration as per the provisions of section 6:

Provided further that, nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to the establishments already having valid registration or renewal under the Goa Shops and Establishments Act, 1973 (Act No. 13 of 1974), until expiry of their registration or renewal.

(2) The employer of such establishment employing less than twenty workers shall intimate within thirty days from the date of the closing of the business that the establishment has been closed for business in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

8. Cancellation of registration.— At any time, if it is found or brought to the notice of the Facilitator- cum-Inspector that the registration of any establishment has been obtained by misrepresentation or suppression of material facts or by submitting false or forged documents or false declaration or by fraud, and therefore, requires to be revoked, the Facilitator-cum-Inspector shall, after giving an opportunity of being heard, to the employer of the establishment, cancel the registration and remove such establishment from the register of establishments in the manner prescribed.

9. Change to be communicated to Facilitator-cum-Inspector.— Every employer shall digitally communicate to the Facilitator-cum-Inspector, in such form as may prescribed, any change in any of the particulars contained in the application submitted under section 6 within such period, after the change has taken place, as the Government may prescribe. The Facilitator-cum-Inspector shall, on receiving such notice and such fees as may be prescribed along with the self-declaration of the applicant and self certified documents as may be prescribed, make the change in the register of establishments in accordance with such notice and shall issue a fresh registration certificate online.

10. Closing of establishment to be communicated to Facilitator-cum-Inspector.— (1) The employer shall communicate to the Facilitator-cum-Inspector within thirty days from the date of closing of the business that the establishment has been closed for business in such form and manner, as may be prescribed.

(2) The Facilitator-cum-Inspector on receiving the information and on being satisfied about its correctness, shall remove such establishment from the register of establishments and cancel the registration certificate:

Provided that, if the Facilitator does not receive the information but he is otherwise satisfied that any establishment has been closed, he may remove such establishment from such register of establishments and cancel such certificate.

CHAPTER III

OPENING AND CLOSING HOURS, HOURS OF WORK, INTERVAL FOR REST, SPREAD-

OVER, WAGES FOR OVERTIME AND WEEKLY OFF

11. Opening and closing hours of establishment.— Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the State Government may, fix, by notification in the Official Gazette, in the public interest, such hours for opening and closing of different classes of establishments and for different premises, shopping complex or mall or for different area or areas and for different period.

12. Daily and weekly hours of work in establishment and interval for rest.— Subject to the other provisions of the Act, no adult worker shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment for more than ten hours in any day and forty-eight hours in any week. No adult worker shall be asked to work continuously for more than five hours unless he has been given a break of not less than half an hour:

Provided that, the working hours or weekly holiday may be relaxed in case of work of urgent nature with the previous permission of the Facilitator-cum-Inspector.

13. Spread-over in establishments.— The spread-over of a worker in establishment shall not exceed twelve hours in any day, and in case a worker entrusted with intermittent nature of work or urgent work, the spread over shall not exceed fourteen hours.

14. Wages for overtime.— (1) Where a worker in any establishment is required to work beyond eight hours in a day excluding the rest time or forty eight hours a week, he shall be entitled in respect of the overtime work, wages at the rate of twice his ordinary rate of wages.

(2) The total number of overtime hours shall not exceed one hundred and forty-four hours in a period of three months:

Provided that in case the worker is required to work upto 10 hours excluding the rest time as normal working day, the overtime at the rate twice his ordinary rate of wages shall apply only when the worker works beyond 48 hours in a week.

15. Weekly holiday for worker.— (1) A department or any section of a department of the establishment may work in more than one shift at the discretion of the employer and if more than one shift is worked, the worker may be required to work in any shift at the discretion of the employer.

(2) An establishment may be kept open for business on all days in a week subject to the condition that every worker shall be allowed weekly holiday of at least twenty-four consecutive hours of rest.

(3) If a worker is denied weekly holiday, the compensatory holiday in lieu thereof shall be given within two months of such weekly holiday.

(4) The period and hours of work in a week for all classes of workers in such shift shall be informed well in advance to all workers in writing and shall be sent to the Facilitator-cum-Inspector electronically or otherwise.

(5) Where a worker is required to work on a day of his rest, he shall be entitled to wages at the rate of twice his ordinary rate of wages.

(6) No deduction shall be made from the wages of any worker in an establishment on account of any day on which it has been a weekly holiday under this section. If a worker is employed on a daily wage, he shall nonetheless be paid his daily wage for the day of his weekly off. If a worker is paid a piece rated wage, he shall nonetheless be paid his wage for the day of his weekly holiday, at a rate equivalent to the daily average of his wages for the days on which he has actually worked during the six days preceding such holiday, exclusive of any earning in respect of overtime:

Provided that, nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any worker whose total period of continuous employment is less than six days.

CHAPTER IV

EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS

16. Employment of women.— (1) No woman worker shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment except between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.:

Provided that, the woman worker shall be allowed to work during 7.30 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. in any establishment, having provision of shelter, restroom, ladies toilet, adequate protection and safety, protection from sexual harassment and facility of transportation from the establishment to their residence and subject to written consent of the woman worker.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding sub-section, the State Government may, by Notification in the Official Gazette, in the public interest, prohibit or regulate the employment of women workers after 7.30 p.m. and before 7.00 a.m. in any establishment as it may deem fit.

17. Employment of child.— No child shall be employed or permitted to work in any establishment.

18. Employment of young persons.— No young person shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment before 6 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

19. Daily and weekly hours of work for young persons.— Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no young person shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment for more than 7 hours in any day and forty-two hours in any week nor shall such person be allowed to work overtime.

CHAPTER V

LEAVE WITH PAY AND PAYMENT OF WAGES

20. Leave.— (1) Every worker shall be allowed a weekly holiday with wages.

(2) Every worker in any establishment shall be entitled in every calendar year,—

(a) to leave with wages for a period of nine days, on the ground of any sickness incurred or accident sustained by him; and

(b) to casual leave with wages for a period of six days on any reasonable ground:

Provided that the sick leave and the casual leave shall laps if unavailed at the end of the year.

(3) Every worker who has worked for a period of two hundred and forty days or more in an establishment during a calendar year shall be allowed during the subsequent calendar year, earned leave with wages for a period of fifteen days.

(4) Every worker shall be permitted to accumulate earned leave upto a maximum of forty-five days.

(5) Where the employer refuses to sanction the leave under sub-section (3) which is due when applied, then the worker shall have a right to encash leave in excess of forty-five days.

(6) A worker shall be entitled to nine paid holidays in a calendar year, namely, Republic Day, Birth Anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, May Day, Independence Day, Ganesh Chaturthi, Gandhi Jayanti, Diwali, Goa Liberation Day and Christmas Day. For holiday on these days, he shall be paid wages at a rate equivalent to the daily average of his wages (excluding overtime), which he earns during the month in which such compulsory holidays falls:

Provided that, the employer may require any worker to work in the establishment on all or any of these days, subject to the conditions that for such work, the worker shall be paid double the amount of the daily average wages and also leave on any other day in lieu of the compulsory holiday.

(7) For the purpose of sub-section (3),—

(a) any days of lay-off, by agreement or contract or as permissible under the model standing orders or standing order certified under Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 (Central Act 26 of 1946);

(b) in the case of a woman worker, maternity leave as provided for in the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961 (Central Act 53 of 1961);

(c) the leave earned in the year prior to that in which the leave is availed; or

(d) the worker has been absent due to temporary disablement caused by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment, shall be deemed to be days on which the worker has worked in any establishment for the purpose of computation of the period of two hundred and forty days or more, but shall not earn leave for these days.

(8) The leave admissible under this section shall be exclusive of all holidays whether occurring during or either at the end of the period of leave.

(9) Every worker shall be paid for the period of his leave earned under sub-section (3) at a rate equivalent to the daily average of his wages for the days on which he actually worked during the preceding three months, exclusive of any earnings in respect of overtime.

CHAPTER VI

WELFARE PROVISIONS

21. Health and safety of workers.— (1) Every employer shall take such measures relating to the health and safety of the workers including cleanliness, lighting, ventilation and prevention of fire as may be prescribed.

(2) Every employer shall be responsible for providing constant adequate supervision of the workers employed in the establishment and to ensure the compliance with the rules relating to health and safety made under sub-section (1) and for taking steps necessary to prevent accidents.

22. First-aid.— Every employer shall provide at the place of work first-aid facilities as may be prescribed.

23. Drinking water.— The employer shall make effective arrangements to provide and maintain at suitable points conveniently situated for all persons employed in the establishment, a sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water.

24. Latrines and urinals.— The employer shall provide sufficient latrine and urinal for men and women as may be prescribed and these shall be so conveniently situated as may be accessible for the workers employed in the establishment:

Provided that, several employers may provide common facilities of latrines and urinals, in case it is not possible, in an establishment due to constraint in space or otherwise.

25. Creche facility.— In every establishment wherein fifty or more workers are employed, there shall be provided and maintained a suitable room or rooms as crèche for the use of children of such workers:

Provided that, if a group of establishments, so decide to provide a common creche within a radius of one kilometre, then, the same shall be permitted by the Chief Facilitator by an order, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.

26. Canteen.— The State Government shall require the employer to provide and maintain in the establishment, wherein not less than one hundred workers are employed or ordinarily employed to maintain a canteen for the use of its workers:

Provided that, if a group of establishments, so decide to provide a common canteen, then the same shall be permitted by the Chief Facilitator by an order, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.

CHAPTER VII

RECORDS AND RETURNS

27. Maintenance of registers and records.— (1) Every employer shall maintain such registers and records, as may be prescribed.

(2) The records may be maintained electronically or manually:

Provided that, at the time of inspection by a Facilitator-cum-Inspector, a hard copy of such records if demanded, shall be submitted duly signed by the employer or his representative.

(3) Every employer and in his absence the manager shall on demand produce for inspection of Chief Facilitator and Facilitator-cum-Inspector all registers, records and notices required to be kept under and for the purposes of this Act.

(4) All such registers and records shall be kept in the premises of the establishments to which they relate.

28. Annual Return.— The employer of an establishment shall furnish an annual return, in such a form and in such manner (including electronic form), to such authority as may be prescribed.

29. Appointment Letter.— Every employer shall give an order of appointment to his worker in the establishment before such worker joins the service:

Provided that in the case of a worker in the service at the commencement of this Act, the employer shall give such order of appointment within a period of three months from the date of such commencement.

30. Employer to furnish identity card to worker.— The employer of an establishment shall furnish to every worker an identity card which shall be produced by the worker on demand to Facilitator-cum-Inspector. Such card shall contain the following and such other particulars as may be prescribed, namely:—

(a) the name of the employer;

(b) the name, if any, and the postal address, of the establishment;

(c) the name and date of birth of the worker;

(d) date of joining, department, nature of work, designation;

(e) the signature (with date) of the employer or manager.

CHAPTER IX

ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTION

31. Appointment of Chief Facilitator and Facilitator-cum-Inspector and their powers.— (1) The State Government may, by Notification in the Official Gazette, appoint a Chief Facilitator who shall, in addition to the powers conferred on a Chief Facilitator under this Act, exercise the power of a Facilitator-cum-Inspector throughout the State.

(2) The State Government may, by Notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such persons who possess such qualification as may be prescribed, to be the Facilitator-cum-Inspector, for the purposes of this Act, and may assign to them such local limits as it may think fit.

(3) The State Government may prescribe a scheme for randomized inspection of establishments which shall provide for generation of a web-based inspection schedule.

(4) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, a Facilitator-cum-Inspector may, within the local limits for which he is appointed—

i. advice the employers and workers and provide them such information as may be considered necessary for complying with the provisions of this Act effectively;

ii. inspect the establishment in accordance with the scheme for inspection referred to in sub-section (3) or otherwise, and may—

(a) enter, at all reasonable time and with such assistants, if any, being persons in the service of the Government or of any local authority as he thinks fit, any place which is or which he has reason to believe is an establishment;

(b) make such examination of the premises and of any prescribed registers, records and notices, and take on the spot or otherwise evidence of any persons as he may deem necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act;

(c) examine any person who is found in any premises of the establishment and whom, the Facilitator-cum-Inspector has reasonable cause to believe, is a worker of the establishment;

(d) require any person to give any information, which is in his power to give with respect to the names and addresses of the persons;

(e) search, seize or take copies of such register, record of wages or notices or portions thereof as the Facilitator-cum-Inspector may consider relevant in respect of an offence under this Act and which the Facilitator-cum-Inspector has reason to believe has been committed by the employer;

(f) bring to the notice of the State Government defects or abuses not covered by the law for the time being in force; and

(g) exercise such other powers, as may be prescribed:

Provided that, no person shall be compelled under this section to answer any question or give any evidence tending to incriminate himself.

(5) The Chief Facilitator shall apart from exercising all the powers and functions of the Facilitator control and supervise the functioning of the Facilitator-cum-Inspector and may assign or reassign the area of work of the Facilitator-cum-Inspector subject to the jurisdiction of the local area.

(6) Any person required to produce any document or to give any information required by Chief Facilitator and Facilitator-cum-Inspector appointed under sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be deemed to be legally bound to do so within the meaning of sections 210 and 211 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 45 of 2023).

(7) The provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 46 of 2023) shall, apply to the search or seizure under sub-clause (e) of clause (ii) of sub-section (4) as they apply to the search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 97 of the said Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 46 of 2023).

(8) Every Chief Facilitator and Facilitator-cum-Inspectors appointed under sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of sub-section 28 of Section 2 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 45 of 2023).

CHAPTER X

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

32. Penalty for contravention of provisions of this Act.— (1) Whoever, contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder shall be punishable with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees and in the case of a continuing contravention, with an additional fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for every day during which such contravention continues:

(2) If any person who has been convicted of any offence punishable under sub-section (1) is again guilty of an offence involving a contravention or failure of compliance of the same provision, he shall be punished on a subsequent conviction with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees.

33. Penalty for contravention of provisions of this Act which resulted in accident.— Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, where an employer on being held guilty of contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any rules made there-under which has resulted in an accident causing serious bodily injury or death of a worker, he shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which shall not be less than twenty- five thousand rupees and which may be extended upto one lakh rupees.

34. Penalty for obstructions or refusal to provide register, etc.— (1) Whoever, wilfully obstructs the Facilitator-cum-Inspector in exercise of any powers conferred on him by or under this Act or refuses or wilfully neglects to afford a Facilitator-cum-Inspector any reasonable facility for making any inspection, examination, inquiry or investigation authorized by or under this Act in relation to an establishments, shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.

(2) Whoever, wilfully refuses to produce on the demand of a Facilitator-cum-Inspector any register or other document kept in pursuance of this Act or the rules made thereunder or prevents or attempts to prevent or does anything which he has reason to believe to prevent any person from appearing before, or being examined by, a Facilitator-cum-Inspector acting in pursuance of his duties under this Act, shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.

35. Cognizance of offences.— (1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act and the rules made thereunder unless a complaint in respect thereof is made by the Facilitator-cum-Inspector within six months of the date on which the alleged commission of the offence came to the knowledge of the Facilitator-cum-Inspector.

(2) No court inferior to that of a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class shall try any offence punishable under this Act or the rules made thereunder.

36. Compounding of offences.— (1) Any offence punishable under this Act, on an application of the accused person, either before or after the institution of any prosecution, be compounded by a Gazetted Officer, as the State Government may, by Notification, specify, with fine provided for such offence, in the manner as may be prescribed.

(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to an offence committed by a person for the second time or thereafter within a period of five years from the date—

(a) of commission of a similar offence which was earlier compounded;

(b) of commission of similar offence for which such person was earlier convicted.

(3) Every officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise the powers to compound an offence, subject to the direction, control and supervision of the State Government.

(4) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(5) Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any prosecution, no prosecution shall be instituted in relation to such offence, against the offender in relation to whom the offence is so compounded.

(6) Where the compounding of any offence is made after the institution of any prosecution, such compounding shall be brought by the officer referred to in sub-section (1) in writing, to the notice of the Court in which the prosecution is pending and on such notice of the compounding of the offence being given, the person against whom the offence is so compounded shall be discharged.

(7) Any person who fails to comply with an order made by the officer referred to in sub-section (1), shall be liable to pay a sum equivalent to twenty per cent of the maximum fine provided for the offence, in addition to such fine.

(8) No offence punishable under the provisions of this Act shall be compounded except under and in accordance with the provisions of this section.

CHAPTER XI

MISCELLANEOUS

37. Power to exempt.— The State Government may, by Notification in the Official Gazette, exempt from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act or rules, any establishment or class thereof or any employer or worker or person or class of employers or workers or persons to whom this Act applies for any period on such terms and conditions, as it may thinks fit.

38. Rights and privileges under other laws etc., not affected.— Nothing in this Act shall affect any right or privileges which a worker in any establishment is entitled to at the date of commencement of this Act under any other law, contract, custom or usage applicable to such establishment or any award, settlement or agreement binding on the employer and the worker in such establishment, if such rights or privileges are more favourable to him than those to which he would be entitled under this Act.

39. Protection of action taken in good faith.— No suit, prosecution or legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

40. Application of the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923.— The provisions of the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923 (Central Act 8 of 1923), and the rules made thereunder, shall so far as may be, apply to every establishment to whom section 6 as well as section 7 of the Act applies.

41. Power to make rules.— (1) The Government may, by Notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(2) All rules made under this Act shall be subject to the condition of previous publication.

(3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before the State Legislature, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session or sessions immediately following, the House agree in making any modification in any rule or agree that the rule should not be made, and notify their decision to that effect in the Official Gazette, the rule shall, from the date of publication of such decision in the Official Gazette, have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so however that, any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule.

42. Power to remove difficulties.— (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, as occasion arises, by an order published in the Official Gazette, do anything not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, which appears to it to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of removing the difficulty:

Provided that, no such order shall be made after the expiry of the period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before the State Legislature.

43. Repeal and savings.— On and from the date of commencement of this Act, the Goa Shops and Establishments Act, 1973 (Act No. 13 of 1974), shall stand repealed :

Provided that,—

(a) every appointment order, rule, bye-law, regulation, notification, registration or notice made, issued or given under the provisions of the Act so repealed shall, in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been made, issued or given under the provisions of this Act, unless and until superseded by any appointment, order, rule, bye-law, regulation, notification or notice made, issued or given under this Act;

(b) any proceeding relating to the trial of any offence punishable under the provisions of the Act so repealed shall be continued and completed as if the said Act had not been repealed but had continued in operation and any penalty imposed on such proceedings shall be recovered under the Act so repealed.

Secretariat, Porvorim-Goa. Dated: 01-10-2025.

SANDIP JACQUES Secretary to the Government of Goa, Law Department (Legal Affairs).

_________

Notification

7/26/2025-LA/144 Date : 01-Oct-2025 The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Goa Act 24 of 2025), which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 07-08-2025 and assented to by the Governor of Goa on 24-09-2025, is hereby published for the general information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

_________

The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2025

(Goa Act 24 of 2025)

AN

ACT

[24/09/2025]

further to amend the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Goa Act No. 14 of 1994).

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2025.

(2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Amendment of section 47.— In the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Goa Act No. 14 of 1994) (hereinafter referred to as the "principal Act"), for Clause (i), following clause shall be substituted, namely:—

"(i) to issue licences for construction, repairs, modification or alteration of a building, so also occupancy certificate thereof, in pursuance of the resolution of the Panchayat, except for repairs of building which consists of a single dwelling unit for which no resolution is required;".

3. Amendment of section 47-B.— In section 47-B of the principal Act, for the words "within one month", the words "within fifteen days" shall be substituted.

4. Amendment of section 66.— In section 66 of the principal Act,—

(i) for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

"(2) If the Panchayat does not, within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of the application under sub-section (1), determine whether such permission should be given or not and communicate its decision to the applicant, after expiry of such period of fifteen days, such permission shall be deemed to have been granted to the applicant and the applicant shall be free to execute the work strictly in accordance with the technical clearance and plans as approved by Town and Country Planning Authorities and in conformity with conditions laid down by all other statutory authorities but not so as to contravene any of the provisions of this Act or any rules or bye-laws made under this Act or of any other law for the time being in force:

Provided that the observations, if any, of the Panchayat in respect of the application under this section to be complied by the applicant shall be communicated by the Panchayat to the applicant compulsorily in one single communication and within a period of seven days from the date of receipt of such application. The period between the date of dispatch of such communication by the Panchayat and the date of compliance by the applicant shall not be considered for calculating such period of fifteen days specified for the purpose of determination of application by the Panchayat.";

(ii) in sub-section (2A), the expression "within a period of fifteen days from the date on which such permission is deemed to have been granted under sub-section (2)", shall be omitted;

(iii) for sub-section (2E), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

"(2E) If the Panchayat does not, within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of application for occupancy certificate, determine whether such occupancy certificate should be issued or not and communicate its decision to the applicant, after expiry of such period of fifteen days, such occupancy certificate shall be deemed to have been issued if the applicant has obtained necessary completion certificate from the Town and Country Planning Authorities as per the provisions of the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008 (Goa Act 6 of 2008) and the Regulations framed thereunder:

Provided that the observations, if any, of the Panchayat in respect of the application under this section to be complied by the applicant shall be communicated by the Panchayat to the applicant compulsorily in one single communication and within a period of seven days from the date of receipt of such application. The period between the date of dispatch of such communication by the Panchayat and the date of compliance by the applicant shall not be considered for calculating such period of fifteen days specified for the purpose of determination of application by the Panchayat.";

(iv) in sub-section (2F), the expression "within a period of fifteen days from the date on which such occupancy certificate is deemed to have been issued under sub-section (2E)", shall be omitted.

5. Amendment of section 72.— In section 72 of the principal Act,—

(i) for sub-section (2A), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

"(2A) If the Panchayat does not, within a period of seven days from the date of receipt of the application under sub-section (1), determine whether such licence under section 69, 70 or 71 should be granted or not and communicate its decision to the applicant, after expiry of such period of seven days, such licence shall be deemed to have been granted to the applicant, subject to the condition that the applicant obtains all the requisite other permissions from other statutory authorities for the purpose of carrying out the activity by virtue of such licence, but not so as to contravene any of the provisions of this Act or any rules or bye-laws made under this Act or of any other law for the time being in force:

Provided that the observations, if any, of the Panchayat in respect of the application under this section to be complied by the applicant shall be communicated by the Panchayat to the applicant compulsorily in one single communication and within a period of three days from the date of receipt of such application. The period between the date of dispatch of such communication by the Panchayat and the date of compliance by the applicant shall not be considered for calculating such period of seven days specified for the purpose of determination of application by the Panchayat.";

(ii) in sub-section (2B), the expression "within a period of fifteen days from the date on which such licence is deemed to have been granted under sub-section (2A)", shall be omitted.

6. Insertion of new section 72-A.— After section 72 of the principal Act, following section shall be inserted, namely:—

"72-A. Sealing of premises carrying on any trade and or occupation without licence.— (1) If any person without obtaining a licence from the Panchayat under section 69 or section 70 or section 71 carries on any trade or occupation in any premises within the limits of Panchayat jurisdiction, the Panchayat shall, after giving an opportunity of being heard to such person seal such premises:

Provided that if the application for licence is already submitted to the Panchayat, such premises shall not be sealed till such application is rejected on merit:

Provided further that no such premises shall be sealed till the expiry of the period given to rectify any defect thereof.

(2) An appeal against the order of the Panchayat shall lie before the Director and the decision of the Director in the matter shall be final:

Provided that the Director shall not grant any interim relief without hearing the Panchayat.".

Secretariat, Porvorim-Goa. Dated: 01-10-2025

SANDIP JACQUES Secretary to the Government of Goa, Law Department (Legal Affairs).

_________

Notification

7/31/2025-LA/145 Date : 01-Oct-2025 The City of Panaji Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Goa Act 25 of 2025), which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 07-08-2025 and assented to by the Governor of Goa on 22-09-2025, is hereby published for the general information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

_________

The City of Panaji Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2025

(Goa Act 25 of 2025)

AN

ACT

[22/09/2025]

further to amend the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 (Goa Act 1 of 2003).

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-sixth year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the City of Panaji Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2025.

(2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Amendment to section 258.— In the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 (Goa Act 1 of 2003), in section 258, in sub-section (3), for the expression "if the Commissioner within sixty days of the receipt from any person of valid notice of such person's intention to erect or re-erect the building or within one hundred and twenty days of such receipt, if the notice relates to a building on the same or part of the same site on which sanction for the erection of a building has been refused within the previous twelve months, neglects or omits to pass orders sanctioning or refusing to sanction such erection or re-erection,", the expression "if the Commissioner neglects or omits to pass orders sanctioning or refusing to sanction such erection or re-erection1272 OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES I No. 26 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 3) 01ST OCTOBER, 2025 within fifteen days of the receipt from any person of valid notice of such person's intention to erect or re-erect the building," shall be substituted.

Secretariat, Porvorim-Goa. Dated: 01-10-2025

SANDIP JACQUES Secretary to the Government of Goa, Law Department (Legal Affairs).

__________

Notification

7/21/2025-LA/146 Date : 01-Oct-2025 The Goa Tax on Infrastructure (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Goa Act 26 of 2025), which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 04-08-2025 and assented to by the Governor of Goa on 24-09-2025, is hereby published for the general information of the public. Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

__________

The Goa Tax on Infrastructure (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Goa Act 26 of 2025)

AN

ACT

[24/09/2025] further to amend the Goa Tax on Infrastructure Act, 2009 (Goa Act 20 of 2009).

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India, as follows:—

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Tax on Infrastructure (Amendment) Act, 2025.

(2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Amendment of section 3.— In section 3 of the Goa Tax on Infrastructure Act, 2009 (Goa Act 20 of 2009) for sub-section (5), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

"(5) The tax or service charge on infrastructure payable under sub-section (1) shall be assessed and collected by the Competent Authority in two installments, 50% at the time of issue of Technical Clearance/Development Permission and 50% at the time of issue of Completion Certificate/Order".

Secretariat, Porvorim-Goa. Dated: 01-10-2025

SANDIP JACQUES Secretary to the Government of Goa, Law Department (Legal Affairs).

——— ♦♦♦———

Department of Revenue

Notification

17/78/2025-RD/2830 Date : 01-Oct-2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 1 of the Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Goa Act 16 of 2025), the Government of Goa hereby appoints the 4th day of October, 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Goa.

Vrushika Kauthankar, Under Secretary (Revenue-I).

Porvorim.

Notification

17/78/2025-RD/2831 Date : 01-Oct-2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause 19 of Article 153 read with Article 372-B of the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961, in its application to the State of Goa, the Government of Goa hereby makes the following rules, namely:—

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) These rules may be called the Goa Regularisation of Grant/Allotment of Encroached Comunidade Land Rules, 2025.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of commencement of the Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment) Act, 2025.

2. Definitions:— (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "article" means article of the Code";

(b) "Code" means the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961, in its application to the State of Goa;

(c) "Form" means a form appended to these rules;

(d) "Government" means the Government of Goa.

(2) The words and expressions used in these rules and not defined, but defined in the Code, shall have the same meaning as respectively defined in the code.

3. Form of application for regularisation of grant/allotment and fees payable thereof.— The application referred to in Clause (3) of article 372-B shall be made in Form I hereto and the documents to be accompanied by such application shall be such as specified in the list of documents appended to such application and a processing fees of rupees one hundred paid by affixing a Court fee stamp or a Special Adhesive stamp of rupees one hundred. The applicant shall submit an affidavit in Form II hereto alongwith such application.

4. Form of application for obtaining consent of the Comunidade.— The application referred in clause (6) of Article 372-B shall be made in Form III hereto.

5. Form of certificate to be issued by the Administrator.— The certificate referred to in clause (9) of article 372-B shall be issued in Form IV hereto.

_________

FORM I

(See rule 3)

Application for Regularization of Grant/Allotment of Encroached Comunidade Land

To, The____________________,

_______________________, ____________________ District, Goa.

Sub.:- Request for regularization of grant/allotment of encroached comunidade land.

Sir/ Madam,

In pursuance of article 372-B of the Legislative Diploma No.2070 dated 15-4-1961, in its application to the State of Goa, the undersigned, Shri/Smt. __________ ________________________________, son/daughter/wife of Shri ____________ __________________________, aged ______ years, (occupation)___________ _________________, residing at _______________________________________ _________________, Goa, hereby submit this application for regularisation of grant/allotment of encroached1274 OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES I No. 26 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 3) 01ST OCTOBER, 2025 land belonging to the comunidade on which a dwelling house has been constructed by the undersigned/ _______________ of the undersigned. The details of applicant, encroacher, land and dwelling house are as under:

(Please fill in CAPITAL LETTERS only)

1. Details of Applicant :

a. Full Name: __________________________________________________

b. Relation with the encroacher (if applicant is other than the encroacher): _______________

c. Residential Address: __________________________________________

d. Contact Number: _____________________________________________

e. Email (if any): _______________________________________________

2. Details of Encroacher:

a. Full Name: __________________________________________________

b. Residential Address: __________________________________________

c. Contact Number: _____________________________________________

d. Email (if any): _______________________________________________

3. Other Details:

a. Location/Address of Dwelling House: ___________________________

b. Village Panchayat/Municipality: _______________________________

c. Survey No. /P.T. Sheet No. and Sub-Division No. / Chalta No.: ___________

d. Name of the Comunidade:______________________________________

e. Approximate Plinth Area (sq. mts): ______________________________

f. Date of Construction (Month / Year) (must be before 28/02/2014): _____

g. House Number allotted by the local authority : _____________________

h. Other number allotted by local authority: __________________________

i. Total area applied for regularisation (sq. mts.): ______________________

4. Status of Applicant:

☐ I am an applicant as defined in article 372-B.

☐ I have been a resident of Goa for at least 15 years preceding 28.02.2014.

☐ I do not own any plot of land, house, flat, apartment, or undivided ancestral property separately allotted to me, in the State of Goa.

5. Zone in which land falls (tick applicable):

☐ Settlement Zone

☐ Institutional Zone

☐ Industrial Zone1275 OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES I No. 26 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 3) 01ST OCTOBER, 2025 ☐ Cultivable Zone

☐ Orchard

6. Documents Enclosed:

List of documents relied to substantiate the claim:

(Tick and attach list at the end of form)

LIST OF DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

__________

FORM II

(See rule 3)

AFFIDAVIT

I, the undersigned, Mr./Mrs./Miss.____________________________________, son/daughter/wife of ___________________________, occupation ___________, aged ____ years, Indian National, married/unmarried, resident of ______________ __________________________________________________, do hereby solemnly affirm and state on oath as under:-

1. I say that I have filed an Application dated ________________ before ____________________ on _______________, for regularization of grant/allotment of encroached land belonging to the comunidade of _________________ under article 372-B of the Code of comunidade.

2. I say that all the statements and information furnished by me in the said application, and the documents submitted therewith are true, correct and genuine to the best of my knowledge and belief, and nothing material has been concealed, misrepresented, or wrongly stated by me.

3. I say that I am married/unmarried. I am a landless person in the State of Goa and I/my ___________ (relation) have constructed a dwelling house on land belonging to the Comunidade of _______________ prior to 28th day of February, 2014.

4. I say that I/my (husband/wife) Mr./Mrs. _____________________/my _____________ (relation) Mr./Mrs. ________________________________ have/has been a permanent resident of the State of Goa for a continuous period of 15 years immediately preceding 28/02/2014.

5. I say that neither myself nor my spouse or my minor/major children own any land, house, flat, apartment, or undivided share in ancestral property separately allotted to me.

6. I say that I have applied for regularisation of a land measuring an area of _______ square metres and in the event the total area under encroachment exceeds the permissible limit under the Code of Comunidade, I undertake to surrender the excess encroached area to the Administrator without any claim for compensation.

7. I say that the land on which the encroachment is sought to be regularized by me is not situated in any of the prohibited categories of land as specified in the proviso to clause (1) of Article 372-B of the Code of Comunidade.

8. I say that neither myself nor any of my family member has made any other application for regularisation of encroachment of land under article 372-B of the Code of Comunidade or any other law for the time being in force besides this application.

9. I say that neither myself nor any of my family member will further claim/ apply for regularisation of grant/allotment of encroached land belonging to any other comunidade under Article 372-B of the Code of Comunidade or any other law for the time being in force.

10. I say that I am fully aware that if any information, statement, or document submitted by me is found to be incorrect or false, the regularisation of the encroachment, if granted, shall be automatically revoked without any further notice, and I shall be duty-bound to remove the said encroachment at my own cost, and shall also be liable for punishment under clause (19) of the Article 372-B of the Code of Comunidade.

11. I say that the contents of this Affidavit are true to the best of my knowledge and nothing is misrepresented in it. If any information given in this Affidavit is found to be false/untrue, I shall be held responsible and liable for whatever action the concerned authorities may like to take in the matter.

12. I say that this Affidavit has been sworn by me to produce alongwith Application for regularization of encroached land belonging to the Comunidade of ________________ before _________________.

Solemnly affirmed at _____________________ on this ______ day of ____________

DEPONENT

__________

FORM III

(See rule 4)

Application for Consent of Comunidade for Regularisation of Grant/Allotment of Encroached Comunidade

Land

To,

The Attorney,

(Name of the Comunidade)

(Village/Taluka), Goa.

Sir/Madam,

I, ______________________ (Full name of applicant) have made an application before the ________________ for the purpose of regularisation of grant/ allotment of encroached comunidade land on ________________(copy of the application along with its enclosures is attached hereto).

For the purpose of regularisation of encroachment I am required to submit the consent of the concerned comunidade to the ______________________________.

1. Particulars of Applicant:

Name: _________________________________________________

Residential Address: ______________________________________

Period of Residence in Goa: __________ years

Period of encroachment: ________ years

2. Particulars of Encroached Land:

Survey No./Chalta No.: ________________________

Sub-division/ PT Sheet No.: _____________________

Village/Taluka: ________________________

Area encroached (Plinth + adjoining area up to 2 meters): ______ sq. mts.

Nature of land (Settlement/Institutional/Industrial/Cultivable/Orchard): ________________________

3. Particulars of Dwelling House constructed:

Year of construction: ________________________

Plinth area: __________ sq. mts. House Number (if allotted by local authority): ________________________

Therefore, I hereby humbly request the Comunidade of ___________to grant its consent for the

purpose of regularisation of grant/allotment of the aforesaid encroached comunidade land under

Article 372-B.

Place: ___________

Date: ___________

Signature of Applicant

(Name in full)

_________

Form IV

(See rule 5)

Office of the Administrator of Comunidades _________ Zone, Goa

No. ____/___/20

Date: ___________

CERTIFICATE OF DEEMED CONSENT

Whereas, Mr/Mrs.__________________, resident of_____________________, had submitted an application to the Comunidade of _____________ on _______ under article 372-B of the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-04-1961 seeking consent of the concerned Comunidade for the purpose of regularisation of grant/allotment of the comunidade land encroached upon by ______________________ for the construction of dwelling house which land is situated in village___________ and surveyed under Survey No./P.T. Sheet No._____________, sub-division No./Chalta No._____________ of village/city _______________, _______________ Taluka, __________________ District, _____________ State of Goa.

And whereas, the Comunidade of __________has failed to,-

(i) take a decision on the said application within thirty (30) days as specified under clause (7) of article 372-B (ii) communicate its decision in writing to the applicant within the period of fifteen (15) days as specified under clause (8) of article 372-B;

And whereas, forty five (45) days have expired from the date of receipt of such application by the Comunidade of ____________________.

Now, therefore, in terms of clause (9) of article 372-B, it is hereby certified that the consent of the Comunidade of ____________ for the said regularisation of encroachment to the extent as provided in the Code shall be deemed to have been given.

Issued under my hand and seal on this ___ day of ____, 20___.

Place: ___________1279 OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES I No. 26 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 3) 01ST OCTOBER, 2025

(Signature & Seal)

Administrator of Comunidades

________________ Zone)

By order and in the name of the Governor of Goa.

Vrushika Kauthankar, Under Secretary (Revenue-I).

Porvorim.

___________

Notification

17/78/2025-RD/2832 Date : 01-Oct-2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 372-B of the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961, the Government of Goa hereby authorises the Officers specified in column (2) of the Table below to exercise powers under article 372-B within the limits of the Talukas as specified against the corresponding entries in column (3) of the table below:

TABLE

This Notification shall come into force on the date of commencement of the Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment) Act, 2025.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Goa.

Vrushika Kauthankar, Under Secretary (Revenue-I).

Porvorim.

__________

Order

17/36/2024/Rev-I/PF-II/2833 Date : 01-Oct-2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of article 372 B of the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961, the Government of Goa hereby specifies the rate in the Table below for determination of the compensation amount to be paid to the concerned Comunidade.

TABLE

Explanation:— For the purpose of Column (3) of the TABLE above, the "minimum land rate" shall mean the rate notified by the Government under sub-rule (3) of Rule 4 of the Goa Stamp (Determination of True Market Value of Property) Rules, 2003, as prevailing on 28.02.2014.

It is clarified that dwelling house constructed prior to 1972, shall necessarily mean those houses which are reflected in the original survey records i.e. Form I and XIV/Form D and Survey Plan.

It is further clarified that, for dwelling houses constructed during the period 1973–2014, the rate per square meters shall be as per the rate specified in Column (3) above and in no case shall be less than Rs. 50 per sq. mtrs.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Goa.

Vrushika Kauthankar, Under Secretary (Revenue-I).

Porvorim.

_________

Notification

16/01/01/2025-Rev-I/PF-I/2834 Date : 01-Oct-2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 1 of the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Goa Act 15 of 2025), the Government of Goa hereby appoints the 4th day of October, 2025, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Goa.

Vrushika Kauthankar, Under Secretary (Revenue-I).

Porvorim.

_________

Notification

16/01/01/2025-Rev-I/PF-I/2835 Date : 01-Oct-2025 Whereas, the draft rules, namely, the Goa Land Revenue (Disposal of Government Lands) (Amendment) Rules, 2025 which the Government of Goa proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by sub- sections (1) and (2) of section 199 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act No. 9 of 1969) were pre- published as required by sub-section (3) of Section 199 of the said Act vide the Government Notification No. 16/01/01/2025-Rev-I/PF-I/2738 dated 12/09/2025 of the Department of Revenue, Government of Goa, in the Official Gazette, Supplement, Series I No. 24 dated 12/09/2025, inviting objections and suggestions from all1281 OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES I No. 26 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 3) 01ST OCTOBER, 2025 persons likely to be affected thereby within a period of fifteen days from the date of publication of the said Notification in the Official Gazette;

And whereas, the said Official Gazette was made available to the public on 12/09/2025;

And whereas, objections and suggestions received from the public within the stipulated time on the said draft Rules have been considered by the Government.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 199 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act 9 of 1969) and all other powers enabling it in this behalf, the Government of Goa hereby makes the following rules, namely:-

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) These rules may be called the Goa Land Revenue (Disposal of Government Lands) (Amendment) Rules, 2025.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of commencement of the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2025.

2. Amendment of rule 48.— In rule 48 of the Goa Land Revenue (Disposal of Government Lands) Rules, 1971 (hereinafter referred to as the "principal Rules"), the existing provisions thereof shall be numbered as sub-rule (1) and after sub-rule (1) so numbered, the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely:-

"(2) The applicant shall pay fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees hundred only) while making an application under sub-section (3) of section 38A by affixing a Court fee stamp or a Special Adhesive stamp of Rs. 100/- (Rupees hundred only) on such application".

3. Amendment of rule 49.— The existing provisions of rule 49 of the principal Rules, shall be numbered as sub-rule (1) thereof and after sub-rule (1) as so numbered, the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely: —

"(2) Form of application.— The application referred to in sub-section (2) of section 38A shall be in form XXIII hereto."

4. Insertion of new rule 51.— After rule 50 of the principal Rules, the following rules shall be inserted, namely:—

51. Issuance of Public Notice.— (1) Before passing any order under section 38A of the Code, a public notice of such intention shall be issued and prominently displayed in the Office of the Deputy Collector, the Office of the Mamlatdar, the Office of the concerned local body and the official website of respective Collector, inviting objections or suggestions, if any, from the public within a period of fifteen days from the date of such notice.

(2) The Deputy Collector shall consider and dispose of any objections or suggestions received within a period of thirty days from the date of expiry of the notice period.

52. Terms and Conditions for grant of land under section 38A.— Every land which is regularised by issuing an order and granting occupancy class I under section 38A of this Code, shall be subject to the provisions of this Code, rules framed thereunder and in particular the following conditions, namely:—

(a) the grantee shall use the land solely for his dwelling house and not for any other purpose;

(b) the grantee shall not sell, assign or otherwise transfer the land or any portion thereof till the expiry of a period of twenty years from the date of grant except by way of gift in favour of his/her family member. Any transfer of said land after expiry of 20 years shall be subject to the provisions of section 37B;

(c) If the grantee commits a breach of any of the conditions aforesaid, the grantee shall be liable to be evicted from the land and the Deputy Collector shall take possession of the land granted. In such eventuality the amount of occupancy price, paid by grantee shall be forfeited to the Government.

(d) In case it is found that the applicant has furnished false declaration or document, the land regularised or allotted shall stand reverted to Government and the applicant shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend upto two years and with fine which may extend upto rupees one lakh.

5. Insertion of new Forms XXIII and XXIV.— After Form XXII of the Principal Rules, the following forms shall be inserted, namely:—

__________

"FORM XXIII

(Under Section 38A of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968, as amended by the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2025)

Application For Regularization of Encroachment For Unauthorized Construction of Dwelling House on

Government Land

To, The Deputy Collector & SDO, ____________________ Sub-Division, ____________________ District, Goa.

Sir/Madam,

In pursuance of the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2025, in its application to the State of Goa, the undersigned Shri/Smt.__________, son/daughter/wife of Shri ______, aged ________ years, (Occupation) _______, residing at ___________, Goa, hereby submit this application for regularization of grant/allotment of encroached land belonging to the Government on which a dwelling house has been constructed by the undersigned/_______ of the undersigned. The details of Applicant, encroacher, land and dwelling house are as under:

(Please fill in CAPITAL LETTERS only)

1. Details of Applicant:

a. Full Name: __________________________________________________

b. Relation with the encroacher (if applicant is other than the encroacher): _________________ c. Residential Address: _________________________________________

d. Contact Number: _____________________________________________

e. Email (if any): _______________________________________________

2. Details of Encroacher:

a. Full Name:

b. Residential Address:

c. Contact No.:

d. E mail id (if any):

3. Other Details:

a. Location /Address of Dwelling House: ___________________________

b. Village Panchayat/Municipality: _______________________________

c. Survey No. /P.T Sheet No. and Sub-Division No./Chalta No.: _________

d. Approximate Plinth Area (sq. mts): ______________________________

e. Date of Construction (Month/Year) (must be before 28/02/2014): _____

f. House Number allotted by local authority:_______________________________

g. Other number allotted by local authority: ____________________________1283 OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES I No. 26 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 3) 01ST OCTOBER, 2025 h. Total area applied for regularisation (sq. mts): ______________________

i. Total area encroached (sq. mts):__________________

j. Family members staying in the dwelling house:______________________

4. Status of Applicant:

o I am an applicant as defined in Section 38A.

o I have been a resident of Goa for at least 15 years preceding 28.02.2014.

o I do not own any plot of land, house, flat, apartment, or undivided ancestral property separately allotted to me, in the State of Goa.

5. Zone in which land falls (tick applicable):

o Settlement Zone

o Institutional Zone

o Industrial Zone

o Cultivable Zone

o Orchard

6. Documents Enclosed:

List of documents relied to substantiate the claim:

(Tick and attach list at end of form)

LIST OF DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

__________

FORM XXIV

AFFIDAVIT

1. I, the undersigned Mr./ Mrs./Miss __________________________________, son/ daughter/ wife of __________________________, occupation _______, aged __________ years, Indian National, married, resident of _______________________________________, do hereby solemnly affirm and state on oath as under :

2. I say that I have applied for regularization of land under section 38A of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968. I say that all the information furnished by me in the application dated _______, and the documents furnished are true, correct, and complete in all respect to the best of my knowledge and belief, and nothing material has been concealed, misrepresented, or wrongly stated.

3. I say that I am a landless person in the State of Goa and I, ______/my father/mother/spouse Shri./Smt.___________ have constructed a dwelling house on ___________ (date) on Government land

i.e prior to 28th February 2014.

4. I say that I have been a permanent resident of the State of Goa for a continuous period of ___________

years immediately preceding 28th February 2014.

5. I say that my father/mother/spouse Shri/Smt.________ have constructed dwelling house on _________ and that they had residence in Goa for a period of ____ years preceding the said date (28/02/2014). 6. I say that I do not own any other land, house, flat, apartment, or undivided share in ancestral property separately allotted to me.

7. I say that I have applied for regularisation of an area measuring _______ square metres, and in the event the total area under encroachment exceeds the permissible limit specified in the Code, 1968, I undertake to surrender the excess encroached area to the Government without any claim.

8. I say that the construction sought to be regularised is not situated in any prohibited category of land as mentioned in the proviso to section 38A(1) of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968.

9. I say that neither myself nor any of my family member has made any other application for regularization of encroachment of land under section 38A of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 or any other law for the time being in force besides this application.

10. I say that I nor any of my family member will further claim/ apply for regularisation under section 38 A of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 or any other law for the time being in force.

11. I say that I am fully aware that if any information, statement, or document submitted by me is found to be incorrect, false, or misrepresented, the regularisation of the construction, if granted, shall be automatically revoked without any further notice, and I shall be duty-bound to remove the said construction at my own cost, and shall also be liable for prosecution under Section 38A(10) of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968.

12. I say that the contents of this Affidavit are true to the best of my knowledge and nothing is misrepresented in it. If any information given in this Affidavit is found to be false / untrue, I shall be held responsible and liable for whatever action the concerned authorities may like to take in the matter.

13. I say that this Affidavit has been sworn by me to produce alongwith application for regularization of encroached land belonging to the Government of Goa, before __________.

Solemnly affirmed at _____________________ on this ______ day of ____________

D E P O N E N T

By order and in the name of the Governor of Goa.

Vrushika Kauthankar, Under Secretary (Revenue-I).

Porvorim.

___________

Order

16/01/01/2025/Rev-I/PF-I/2836 Date : 01-Oct-2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 38A of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act No. 9 of 1969), the Government of Goa hereby specifies the rate in the table below for determination of occupancy price.

Explanation:— For the purpose of column (3) of table above, the "minimum land rate" shall mean the rate notified by the Government under sub-rule (3) of Rule 4 of the Goa Stamp (Determination of True Market Value of Property) Rules, 2003, as prevailing on 28.02.2014.

It is clarified that dwelling house constructed prior to 1972 shall necessarily mean those houses which are reflected in the original survey records i.e. Form I and XIV/ Form D and Survey Plan.

It is further clarified that, for dwelling houses constructed during the period 1973–2014, the rate per square meter shall be as per the rate specified in Column (3) above and in no case shall be less than Rs. 50 per sq. mtrs.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Goa.

Vrushika Kauthankar, Under Secretary (Revenue-I).

Porvorim.

___________

Notification

25/01/01-2020-RD/7474 Date : 01-Oct-2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 1 of the Goa Regularisation of Unauthorized Construction (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Goa Act 17 of 2025), the Government of Goa hereby appoints the 4th October, 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Goa.

Agnelo D'Souza, Under Secretary (Revenue).

Porvorim.

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