SUPPLEMENT

Goa Legislature Secretariat

The following bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa on 31st August,

2026 is hereby published for general information in pursuance of Rule-138 of the Rules of Procedure and

Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

________

The Goa Advocates Protection Bill, 2026

(Bill No. 47 of 2026)

BILL

to provide for the prevention of offences against the advocates and damage or loss to the property of

advocates and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

1. Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Advocates Protection

Act, 2026.

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

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Official

Gazette, appoint.

2. Definitions.— (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “advocate” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it under Clause (a) of sub-section (1) of

Section 2 of the Advocates Act, 1961 (Central Act No. 25 of 1961) and who is practicing in the State of

Goa;

(b) “Government” means the Government of Goa;

LA/LEGN/2026/1624

Suggestions are welcomed on e-mail: [email protected]

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

RNI No. GOAENG/2002/6410

Panaji, 04th September, 2026 (Bhadra 13, 1948)

SERIES I No. 23

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

professional practice;

(d) “property” means any property, movable or immovable or equipment or machinery owned by or

in possession of an advocate.

(2) Words and expressions used in the Act but not defined shall have the same meaning as assigned to

them in the Advocates Act, 1961 (Central Act No. 25 of 1961) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

(Central Act No. 45 of 2023).

3. Prohibition of assault, grievous hurt, criminal force and criminal intimidation.— Any act of assault,

grievous hurt, criminal force, criminal intimidation or harassment committed against an advocate in

connection with the discharge of the professional duties of such advocate shall be an offence.

4. Protection of property of advocate.— No person shall cause damage or loss to the property of an

advocate on account of, or in relation to, the discharge of his professional duties.

5. Police protection.— (1) Any advocate who is under the threat of being a victim of an offence under

Section 3 and/or 4 shall be entitled to police protection for such duration which the Court deems fit, upon

making an application before the Court of Sessions.

(2) Where the police protection is provided to the advocate, no police officer below the rank of the

Deputy Superintendent of Police shall, withdraw, reduce or discontinue such protection, without prior

permission of the Court which granted such police protection.

6. Punishment for offences.— Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,

2023 (Central Act No. 45 of 2023),—

(a) whoever assaults or uses criminal force against an advocate shall be punished with imprisonment

of either description for a term which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to fifty-

five thousand rupees;

(b) whoever voluntarily causes grievous hurt to an advocate shall be punished with imprisonment of

either description for a term which may extend to seven years and with fine which may extend to one

lakh rupees;

either description for a term which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to twenty-

five thousand rupees, and where the threat is to cause death, grievous hurt or destruction of property,

such imprisonment may extend to seven years.

7. Offence to be cognizable.— Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha

Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act No. 46 of 2023), every offence committed under this Act shall be cognizable.

8. Compensation.— Where a Court imposes a sentence of fine or any other sentence of which fine

forms a part, the Court may, when passing the judgment, order such amount of the fine recovered to be

paid as compensation to the advocate.

9. Prosecution of an advocate.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 173 of the

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act No. 46 of 2023) or any other law for the time being

in force, where a report of a cognizable offence is received against an advocate for an act done during the

discharge of professional duties,—

(i) such report shall be registered only after an inquiry by a police officer not below the rank of

Deputy Superintendent of Police;

(ii) such inquiry shall be completed within a period of seven days.

(2) Where a case is registered under sub-section (1), intimation thereof shall be sent to the Bar Council

and the concerned Advocates Association of which such advocate is a member.

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10. Liability to pay damages.— (1) In addition to the punishment specified under Section 6, the

offender shall be liable to pay damages for loss or damage caused to the property of an advocate and to

reimburse medical expenses, as determined by the Court.

(2) Such damages shall be recovered by the court trying the case and be paid to the victim.

11. Punishment for misuse of provisions of this Act.— Whoever, being an advocate, misuses the

provisions of this Act or makes a false or malicious complaint shall be punished with imprisonment which

may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

12. Act not in derogation to any other law.— The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not

in derogation to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force.

13. Power to remove difficulties.— (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions

of this Act, the Government may, by order not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, remove the

difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiration of a period of two years from the date of

commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before the

Legislative Assembly of Goa.

14. Power to make Rules.— The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules

for carrying out the purpose of this Act.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Constitution of India envisages a justice delivery system founded upon the rule of law, access to

justice, and the independence of institutions essential to the administration of justice. Advocates, as officers

of the Court and integral participants in the judicial process, perform a constitutionally significant role in

securing the rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution and in ensuring the effective enforcement

of legal remedies.

In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of violence, intimidation, harassment, false

implication and damage to property directed against advocates on account of the discharge of their

professional duties. Such acts have an adverse effect on the independence and fearless functioning of the

legal profession and pose a serious threat to the orderly administration of justice. Interference with

advocates in the lawful discharge of their duties ultimately impairs the fundamental right of litigants to

legal representation and access to justice.

The Bill aims to create a balanced statutory mechanism that safeguards advocates from targeted

violence and harassment, while simultaneously preventing abuse of such protection through appropriate

checks and penalties.

This Bill seeks to achieve above object.

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

No financial implications are involved in this Bill.

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

Clause 1(3) of the Bill empowers the Government to appoint the date for bringing into force the Act by

notification in the Official Gazette.

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Clause 13 of the Bill empowers the Government to issue an order for the purpose of removing any

difficulty which may arise in giving effect to the provision of the Act.

Clause 14 of the Bill empowers the Government to make rules for carrying out all or any of the

purposes of the Act.

These delegations are of normal character.

Porvorim, Goa.

26/08/2026.

Dr. Pramod Sawant

Chief Minister/

Minister for Law and Judiciary.

Assembly Hall,

Porvorim, Goa.

26/08/2026.

Smt. Namrata Ulman

Secretary to the Legislative

Assembly of Goa.

———♦———

The following bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa on 31st August,

2026 is hereby published for general information in pursuance of Rule-138 of the Rules of Procedure and

Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

________

The Goa Ease of Doing Business (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2026

(Bill No. 58 of 2026)

BILL

to amend certain enactments as in force in the State of Goa with a view to reduce regulatory and

compliance burden, decriminalizing minor and technical contraventions, promoting trust-based and

risk-proportionate governance, facilitating transparent and time-bound delivery of business-related

services, strengthening co-ordinated and single-window approval mechanisms, facilitating investment

and improving the ease of doing business in the State of Goa, and for matters connected therewith or

incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Ease of Doing Business

(Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2026.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Official

Gazette, appoint:

Provided that different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and for different

amendments specified in the Schedule hereto, and any reference in any such provision to the

commencement of this Act shall be hereto construed as a reference to the coming into force of that

provision or amendment, as the case may be.

2. Amendment of certain enactments.— The enactments specified in column (4) of the Schedule hereto

are hereby amended to the extent and in the manner specified in the corresponding entry in column (5)

thereof.

LA/LEGN/2026/1625

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3. Construction of references.— Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Schedule hereto, any

reference in any law, rule, regulation, notification, order, scheme, instrument, contract, license, permission,

approval or proceeding to a provision amended by this Act shall, on and from the commencement of the

relevant amendment, be construed as a reference to that provision as so amended.

4. Savings.— Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Schedule hereto, the amendment of any

enactment by this Act shall not affect,

(a) the previous operation of the enactment so amended, or anything duly done or suffered

thereunder;

(b) any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under the enactment so

amended;

committed before the commencement of the relevant amendment; or

(d) any investigation, inquiry, adjudication, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right,

privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment,

and any such investigation, inquiry, adjudication, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted,

continued or enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed, as if the relevant

amendment had not been made.

5. Pending applications and proceedings.— (1) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Schedule,

every application, appeal, revision, review, inquiry, adjudication or other proceeding pending immediately

before the commencement of an amendment made by this Act shall, on and from such commencement, be

dealt with and disposed of in accordance with the enactment as amended by this Act.

(2) Where the application of the enactment as amended would prejudicially affect a vested right,

impose a new penalty in respect of past conduct, or render unlawful anything lawfully done before such

commencement, the matter shall, to that extent, be dealt with in accordance with the law in force

immediately before such commencement.

6. Continuation of rules, regulations and other instruments.— All rules, regulations, notifications,

orders, schemes, appointments, licenses, permissions, approvals, directions and other instruments made,

issued or granted under an enactment amended by this Act and in force immediately before the

commencement of the relevant amendment shall, insofar as they are not inconsistent with that enactment as

so amended, continue to be in force until amended, superseded, rescinded or withdrawn by the competent

authority.

“SCHEDULE

(See section 2)

Serial No.

Year

Act

No.

Short title of

enactment

Extent and manner of amendment

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

2024

The Goa Court-

Fees Act, 2024

(A) In Section 49, for sub-section (3), the following shall be

substituted, namely:—

“(3) Any person appointed to sell stamps, who,––

(a) with fraudulent intent, disobeys any rule made under

this section, or sells or offers for sale any stamp without

being duly appointed, shall be punished with imprisonment

for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine

which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both;

(b) without any fraudulent intent, contravenes any rule

made under this section, shall be liable to penalty not

exceeding ten thousand rupees.”.

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(B) After Section 49, the following sections shall be

inserted, namely:––

“49A. Adjudication of penalties.— (1) For the purpose

of adjudicating penalties under Clause (b) of sub-section (3)

of Section 49, the Government may appoint an officer not

below the rank of Deputy Collector or any officer

equivalent in rank as an adjudicating officer for holding an

inquiry and imposing penalties:

Provided that the Government may appoint as many

adjudicating officers as may be required.

(2) The adjudicating officer may summon and enforce

the attendance of any person acquainted with the facts and

circumstances of the case to give evidence or to produce

any document, which in the opinion of the adjudicating

officer may be useful for, or relevant to, the subject matter

of the inquiry, and if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the

person concerned has contravened any rule made under sub-

section (1) of Section 49, he may impose such penalty as

deemed fit by him, subject to the amount mentioned under

Clause (b) of sub-section (3) of the said section:

Provided that no such penalty shall be imposed without

giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of

being heard.

49B. Appeal.–– (1) Whoever aggrieved by an order of

the adjudicating officer under section 49A may, within thirty

days from the date of receipt of such order, prefer an appeal

to the Collector of the District or before any officer

equivalent in rank designated as such by the Government as

an appellate authority.

(2) An appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the

period of thirty days, if the appellant satisfies the appellate

authority that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the

appeal within that period.

(3) The appellate authority may, after giving the parties

to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, pass such order

as he may think fit.

(4) An appeal under sub-section (1) shall be disposed of

within a period of sixty days from the date of filing.

(5) If penalty imposed by the adjudicating officer under

sub-section (1) of Section 49A or by an order of the

appellate authority under sub-section (3) of this section, as

the case may be, is not deposited, the amount shall be

recovered as arrears of land revenue.”

1965

The Goa

Industrial

Development

Act, 1965

(A) After Section 28, the following section shall be

inserted, namely:—

“28A. Grant of freehold rights.— (1) Notwithstanding

anything contained in any regulation, agreement or order,

and subject to the provisions of this Act, the Corporation

may grant freehold rights over any plot or premises allotted

in an industrial estate or industrial area, in such manner,

subject to such terms and conditions, and upon payment of

such freehold premium, as may be specified by regulations.

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(2) Where the Corporation is satisfied that any person

who has obtained freehold rights under sub-section (1) has

used the plot or premises for any purpose other than a

purpose specified in the regulations, the Corporation may,

after giving a notice and a reasonable opportunity of being

heard, by order, cancel such freehold rights and take

possession of the plot or premises in such manner as may be

specified by regulations.

(3) Where any person who has obtained freehold rights

under sub-section (1) fails to intimate the Corporation

regarding transfer, lease, amalgamation or bifurcation of the

plot or premises, the Corporation may, after giving a notice

and a reasonable opportunity of being heard, by order,

impose such penalty as may be specified by regulations.

(4) Any person aggrieved by an order made under this

section may, within sixty days from the date of

communication of such order, prefer an appeal to such

appellate authority and in such manner as may be specified

by regulations.”.

(B) In Section 18, after sub-section (3), the following sub-

section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(3A) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section,

all monies received by the Corporation as freehold premium

under section 28A shall be maintained as a separate fund,

and the Corporation shall determine the manner in which

such fund shall be managed.”.

section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in

any other law for the time being in force, no money

received under sub-section (3A) of Section 18 shall be spent

except the interest or returns earned thereon:

Provided that any interest or returns remaining unutilized

after meeting the expenditure incurred during a financial

year shall be credited to, and form part of, the fund referred

to in sub-section (3A) of Section 18.”.

(D) In Section 37A, in sub-section (1), after Clause (c), the

following proviso shall be inserted, namely:

(i) “Provided that the Municipalities and the Village

Panchayats which were receiving house tax from the

occupants in the industrial estates under their respective

laws shall be compensated by the Government to the extent

of the last financial year’s collection of taxes, for such

period as may be determined by the Government, which

shall not be less than five years.”;

(ii) in sub-section (1), after the proviso so inserted, the

following clause shall be inserted, namely:

“(d) make such other provision as may be necessary for

the purpose of enforcement of the provisions applicable to

that area.”;

(iii) after sub-section (1), the following sub-sections

shall be inserted, namely:—

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“(2) Before the publication of a notification under sub-

section (1), the Government shall cause to be published in

the Official Gazette and also in at least one newspaper

published in a language other than English and circulating

in the area proposed to be specified in the notification, a

proclamation inviting all persons who entertain any

objection to the said proposal to submit the same in

writing, with reasons, to the Government within two

months from the date of publication of the proclamation in

the Official Gazette.

(3) No notification under sub-section (1) shall be issued

by the Government unless the objections, if any, submitted

under sub-section (2), are in its opinion insufficient or

invalid.”.

(E) In Section 37B,

(i) in sub-section (1),—

(a) for the words “appoint a Committee”, the

expression “appoint a Committee to be called the

Industrial

Planning

and

Developing

Committee,

hereinafter referred to as the Committee,” shall be

substituted;

(b) clause (ii) shall be omitted;

the Government”, the words “or a retired Town Planner or

Chief Town Planner of the Government of Goa to be

appointed by the Corporation on contractual basis” shall be

inserted;

(d) in clause (iv), the following, “to decide and dispose

of all applications for land development, permissions, No

Objection Certificate, construction of building under all

local or special laws including Goa, Daman and Diu Town

and Country Planning Act, 1974 (Act 21 of 1975) and

rules framed thereunder (hereinafter in this section referred

to as the said Act)”, shall be omitted;

(e) after clause (iv), the following clauses shall be

inserted, namely:— “(v) officers deputed by the

Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers, Government of Goa,

to be nominated by the State Government—Members; (vi)

officers deputed by the Directorate of Fire and Emergency

Services, Government of Goa, to be nominated by the

State Government— Members; (vii) members of the Goa

State Pollution Control Board, to be deputed and

nominated by the Board— Members.”;

(ii) in sub-section (2), after the expression “Planning and

Development Authority in a planning area, under the laws in

force”, the expression:

“and decide and dispose of all applications for land

development, permissions, No Objection Certificate,

construction of building under all local or special laws

including Goa, Daman and Diu Town and Country Planning

Act, 1974 (Act 21 of 1975) and rules framed thereunder,

hereinafter in this section referred to as the said Act” shall

be inserted;

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(iii) in sub-section (5), for the expression “may prefer an

appeal to the Goa Town and Country Planning Board. The

provisions of section 45 of the said Act, and the rules

framed thereunder, shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to such

appeal.”, the expression “may, within sixty days from the

date of communication of such order, prefer an appeal to

such appellate authority and in such manner, as may be

specified by the regulations.” shall be substituted;

(iv) after sub-section (5), the following sub-sections shall

be inserted, namely:—

“(6) Subject to such notification as may be issued by

the State Government, the officers deputed under Clause

(v) of sub-section (1) shall, within an industrial area,

exercise such powers and discharge such functions as may

be necessary for granting approvals under the applicable

law relating to factories, including the grant of previous

permission and license under the Factories Act, 1948

(Central Act 63 of 1948).

(7) Subject to such notification as may be issued by the

State Government, the officers deputed under Clause (vi)

of sub-section (1) shall, within an industrial area, exercise

such powers and discharge such functions as may be

necessary for granting approvals under the applicable law

relating to fire safety, including the grant of no objection

certificates under the applicable law.

(8) Subject to an order issued by the Goa State

Pollution Control Board under the applicable law, the

members under Clause (vii) of sub-section (1) shall, within

an industrial area, exercise such powers and discharge such

functions as may be necessary for granting approvals

under the applicable law relating to prevention and control

of pollution, including grant of Consent to Establish and

Consent to Operate under the Water (Prevention and

Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (Central Act 6 of 1974)

and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,

1981 (Central Act 14 of 1981), in respect of industries

other than red category industries.

(9) The officers deputed under Clauses (iv), (v) and (vi),

and the members deputed under Clause (vii) of sub-section

(1), shall, during the period of their deputation to the

Committee, be under the administrative control and

supervision of the Managing Director of the Corporation,

without prejudice to the exercise of their powers and

discharge of their functions under the applicable law.”;

(v) the matter appearing after sub-section (5), beginning

with the proviso “Provided that the Municipalities and the

Village Panchayats...” and ending with sub-section (3), shall

be omitted.

(F) In Section 51, in sub-section (1), after clause (c), the

following clause shall be inserted, namely:—

“(ca) under Section 28A, the manner and terms and

conditions for grant of freehold rights, the freehold

premium, the manner of cancellation of freehold rights and

taking possession of the plot or premises, the imposition of

penalty, the appellate authority and the manner of preferring

appeals;”.

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2013

The Goa (Right

of Citizens to

Time-Bound

Delivery of

Public

Services) Act,

2013

(A) In Section 2,—

i. after Clause (c), the following clauses shall be inserted,

namely:—

“(ca) “business entity” means a sole proprietorship,

partnership firm, limited liability partnership, company,

co-operative society, society, trust or any other person or

undertaking carrying on or proposing to carry on any

lawful business, profession, trade or commercial activity in

the State of Goa, and includes its duly authorised

representative;

(cb) “business service” means a public service notified

under section 4 which is applied for by or on behalf of a

business entity in connection with the establishment,

operation, expansion, diversification, transfer or closure of

a business, or compliance with any regulatory requirement

applicable to such business;

(cc) “electronic service delivery platform” means a

portal, application or other electronic system notified or

authorised by the Government for receipt, processing,

tracking or delivery of a public service;”

ii. for Clause (e), the following clause shall be

substituted, namely:—

“(e) ‘eligible person’ means,—

(a) a citizen of India residing in the State of Goa; and

(b) in relation to a business service, a business entity;”.

iii. after Clause (m), the following clause shall be

inserted, namely:—

“(n) ‘system-generated appeal’ means an appeal

automatically

generated,

registered

and

transmitted

electronically under Section 6A without the business entity

being required to file a separate memorandum of appeal.”

(B) In Section 3, in sub-section (1), for the words “every

eligible person residing in the State of Goa”, the expression

“every eligible person, being a person residing in the State of

Goa or a business entity,” shall be substituted.

person”, the expression “Subject to section 6A, any person,”

shall be substituted.

(D) After Section 6, the following section shall be inserted,

namely:—

“6A. System-generated appeal for business services.—

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 6, where

a business service is not finally disposed of by delivery of

such service within the specified time limit, the electronic

service delivery platform shall, immediately upon expiry of

the specified time limit, automatically generate, register and

transmit an appeal to the Appellate Authority.

(2) An appeal generated under sub-section (1) shall be

deemed to have been preferred by the business entity within

time, and no separate application, memorandum, fee or

other act of the business entity shall be necessary.

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(3)

The

electronic

record

the

application,

acknowledgement, deficiency communications, responses,

orders, communications and audit trail shall form the record

of appeal, and an electronic intimation containing the appeal

number and date shall be sent to the business entity,

designated officer and Appellate Authority.

(4) The business entity may withdraw the system-

generated appeal at any time before its disposal in such

manner as may be prescribed.

(5) The provisions of Sections 6 and 7 shall, so far as

may be, apply to a system-generated appeal under this

section.

(6) The specified time limit shall be computed from the

date on which a complete application, together with the

documents and fee prescribed for the business service, is

received on the electronic service delivery platform:

Provided that the specified time limit shall be suspended

only where a consolidated notice specifying the deficiency

and its legal basis is communicated to the business entity

within such period and in such manner as may be prescribed

and shall resume upon receipt of the information or

document necessary to cure such deficiency.

(7) Failure or unavailability of the electronic service

delivery platform shall not extinguish the right to a system-

generated appeal, and the appeal shall be generated or

registered through such alternative process and within such

period as may be prescribed.

(8) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the

validity of any notification, order, appointment, application,

appeal or proceeding made or taken under this Act before

the commencement of The Goa Ease of Doing Business

(Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2026, and the same shall

continue insofar as it is not inconsistent with this Act as

amended

The

Goa

Ease

Doing

Business

(Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2026.”

(E) For Section 16, the following section shall be

substituted, namely:—

“16. Persons entitled to rights.—The rights conferred by

this Act shall be available to every eligible person in

accordance with the provisions of this Act:

Provided that the rights relating to a business service

shall be available to a business entity only in respect of a

public service notified under Section 4:

Provided further that any compensation awarded or fine

imposed shall be paid by, and recovered from, the officer or

person responsible for such lapse and not out of the

Consolidated Fund of the State.”

2025

The Goa, Shops

and

Establishments

(Registration of

Employment

(A) In Section 1, the following sub-section shall be

substituted namely:—

“(3) The provisions of this Act shall apply to every

establishment as defined under the Act.”.

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and Conditions

of Service) Act,

2025

(B) In section 2,—

i. In Clause c,—

(a) in sub-clause (i) for the words “charitable or other

trust”, the words “The Goa Co-operative Societies Act,

2001 (Goa Act No. 36 of 2001) or charitable or other trust”

shall be substituted.

(b) in sub-clause (ii), for the expression “or

professional

consultant;

and”,

the

expression

“or

professional consultant engaging five or more employees;

and” shall be substituted;

ii. after Clause (d) following clause shall be inserted,

namely:—

“(da) “employee” means any person (other than an

apprentice engaged under the Apprenticeship Act, 1961),

employed on wages by an establishment to do any skilled,

semi-skilled or unskilled, manual, operational, supervisory,

managerial, administrative, technical or clerical work for

hire or reward, whether the terms of employment be

express or implied, and includes a person declared to be an

employee by the Government, but does not include any

member of the Armed Force of the Union”;

iii. In Clause (h) for the expression “The Factories Act,

1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948)” the expression “The

Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code,

2020 (Central Act 37 of 2020)”, shall be substituted;

iv. In Clause (w),—

(a) for the word “workers”, the word “employee” shall

be substituted;

(b) for the expression “The Factories Act, 1948 (Central

Act 63 of 1948)” the expression “The Occupational Safety,

Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (Central Act

37 of 2020)”, shall be substituted;

v. In Clause (y) for the word “worker”, the word

“employee” shall be substituted;

vi. in Clause (za), for expression “The Payment of

Wages Act, 1936 (Central Act 4 of 1936)”, the expression

“The Code on Wages, 2019 (29 of 2019)” shall be

substituted;

vii. Clause (zd) shall be omitted.

i. in Clause (5),—

(a) for the words “A worker”, the words “An

employee” shall be substituted;

(b) the expression, “managerial or supervisory” shall be

omitted;

ii. Clauses (6) and (8) shall be omitted.

(D) In Section 4 and in all other sections, wherever the

words “worker” and “workers” occurs, they shall be

substituted with the words “employee” and “employees”

respectively.

(E) Section 6, Clause (i) shall be omitted.

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(F) For Section 7 the following section shall be substituted,

namely:—

“7. Intimation of establishment employing less than ten

employees.— (1) With a period of sixty day from the date of

commencement of The Goa Ease of Doing Business

(Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2026 or the date on

which establishment commences its business, the employer

of every establishment employing less than ten employees

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.

(2) The employer of every establishment employing less

than ten employees shall intimate to the Facilitator-cum-

Inspector within thirty days any changes in the business or

particulars of the establishment.

(3) The employer of such establishment employing less

than ten employees shall intimate to the Facilitator-cum-

Inspector 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.

(G) Sections 8, 9 and 10 shall be omitted.

(H) For Section 12, the following section shall be

substituted, namely:—

“12. Daily and weekly hours of work in establishment

and interval for rest.— (1) The number of hours of work

which shall constitute a normal working day inclusive of

interval for rest, shall be as prescribed by the Government.

(2) The period and hours of work shall be informed well

in advance to all the employees in writing and a copy of the

same shall be sent to the Facilitator-cum-Inspector

electronically or otherwise.”.

(I) In Section 13, for the expression “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”,

the expression “of an employee in an establishment shall be as

notified by the Government” shall be substituted.

(J) In Section 14, in sub-section (2), the existing proviso

shall be omitted.

(K) In Section 15, sub-sections (1), (4) and (5) shall be

omitted.

(L) In Section 16, in sub-section (1), for the expression

“7.00 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.” the expression “6.00 a.m. and 7.00

p.m.” shall be substituted.

(M) Sections 17, 18 and 19 shall be omitted.

(N) In Section 20, in sub-section (7),—

(i) in Clause (a), for the expression “Industrial

Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 (Central Act 26 of

1946)”, the expression “Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (35

of 2020)” shall be substituted;

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(ii) in Clause (b) for the expression “Maternity Benefits

Act, 1961 (Central Act 53 of 1961)”, the expression “Code

on Social Security, 2020 (36 of 2020)” shall be substituted.

(O) Sections 25 and 26 shall be omitted.

(P) In Section 27, in sub-section (3), the words “and in his

absence the manager” shall be omitted.

(Q) For Section 40, the following section shall be

substituted, namely: —

40. Application of the Employees’ Compensation Act,

1923.— “The provisions of the Employees Compensation

provided under the Code on Social Security, 2020 (36 of 2020)

and the rules made there under shall apply to every

establishment.”

1974

The Goa, Town

and Country

Planning Act,

1974

In Section 49, after the second proviso to sub-section 6, the

following proviso shall be inserted namely:––

“Provided further that no such certificate of sanction shall

be required to be produced for the purpose of transferring land

in favor of the Forest Department for compensatory

afforestation.”

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Government of India has undertaken initiatives for reduction of compliance burden and

deregulation with the objectives of promoting trust-based governance, improving the ease of living and

doing business and facilitating investment-led economic growth. Pursuant to these initiatives, the

Government of Goa has undertaken a review of business-facing State enactments and the regulatory

processes administered thereunder.

The review has identified provisions and procedures that may be rationalized in order to reduce

avoidable regulatory burden, distinguish serious or fraudulent violations from minor and technical

contraventions, promote risk-proportionate regulation and self-certification, facilitate transparent and time-

bound delivery of approvals and services, and strengthen coordinated and single-window institutional

mechanisms.

The Bill accordingly seeks to amend the enactments specified in the Schedule while preserving

safeguards relating to public health and safety, worker welfare, educational standards, environmental

protection, land-use planning, public revenue and procedural fairness.

The bill seeks to achieve the above subjects.

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

No financial implications are involved in this Bill.

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

The Bill contains provisions empowering the Government, the Goa Industrial Development

Corporation, the Goa State Pollution Control Board, the authorities of the concerned departments, and

other competent authorities under the respective enactments to issue notifications, make regulations,

prescribe procedures, specify terms and conditions, designate authorities, depute or nominate officers, and

determine the manner of implementation for carrying out the purposes of the respective amendments.

The amendments to the Goa Court-Fees Act, 2024 empower the Government to appoint adjudicating

officers and appellate authorities for adjudication of penalties and appeals.

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The amendments to the Goa Industrial Development Act, 1965 empower the Corporation to frame

regulations regarding grant of freehold rights, premium, cancellation, penalties, appellate mechanism,

constitution and functioning of the Industrial Planning and Developing Committee, and related matters.

The amendments to the Goa (Right of Citizens to Time-Bound Delivery of Public Services) Act, 2013

empower the Government to prescribe the manner and procedure for electronic service delivery, system-

generated appeals, withdrawal of such appeals, computation and suspension of specified time limits, and

alternative processes in case of platform failure.

The amendments to the Goa, Shops and Establishments (Registration of Employment and Conditions

of Service) Act, 2025 empower the Government to prescribe the form, manner, particulars and procedure

for online intimation by establishments, notification of working hours and connected matters.

The amendments to the Goa, Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 are clarificatory in nature and do

not involve any additional delegation beyond implementation of the amended provision.

These delegations are of normal character.

Porvorim, Goa.

31st August, 2026.

Dr. Pramod Sawant

Chief Minister

Assembly Hall,

Porvorim, Goa.

31st August, 2026.

Smt. Namrata Ulman

Secretary to the Legislative

Assembly of Goa.

---------

ANNEXURE

2024

The Goa Court-

Fees Act, 2024

49. Sale of stamps.— (3) Any person appointed to sell stamps who

disobeys any rules made under this section, and any person not so

appointed who sells or offers for sale only stamp, shall, on conviction,

be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three

years or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with

both

1965

The Goa

Industrial

Development

Act, 1965

28. Disposal of land by the Corporation.— (1) Subject to any

directions given by the State Government under this Act, the

Corporation may dispose of-

(a) any land acquired by the State Government and transferred to it,

without undertaking or carrying out by development thereon; or

(b) any such land after undertaking or carrying out such

development as it thinks fit, to such persons in such manner and

subject to such terms and conditions, as it considers expedient for

securing the purposes of this Act.

(2) the powers of the Corporation with respect to the disposal of

land under sub-section (1) shall be so exercised as to secure so far as

practicable, that-

(a) where the Corporation proposes to dispose of by sale any such

land without any development having been undertaken or carried out

thereon, the Corporation shall offer the land in the first instance to the

person from whom it was acquired, if they desire to purchase it;

subject to such requirements as to its development and use as the

Corporation may think fit to impose;

(b) persons who are residing or carrying on business or other

activities on any such land shall, if they desire to obtain

accommodation on land belonging to the Corporation and are willing

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to comply with any requirements of the Corporation as to its

development and use, have as opportunity to obtain there on

accommodation suitable to their reasonable requirements on terms

settled with due regard to the price at which any such land has been

acquired from them.

(3) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as enabling the

Corporation without the approval of the State Government to dispose

of land by way of gift, mortgage or charge, but subject as aforesaid any

reference in this Act to the disposal of land shall be construed as a

reference to the disposal thereof in any manner, whether by way of

sale, exchange or lease or by the creation of any easement, right or

privilege or otherwise.

18. Corporation's fund.— (3) Such accounts shall be operated

upon by such officers of the Corporation as may be authorised by it by

regulations made in this behalf.

23. Expenditure from funds.— (2) Without prejudice to the

generality of the power conferred by sub-section (1), the Corporation

may contribute such, sums as it thinks fit towards expenditure incurred

or to be incurred by any local authority or statutory public undertaking

in the performance, in relation to any of the statutory functions of such

authority or undertaking, including expenditure incurred in the

acquisition of land.

[37 A]. Declaration as industrial area.— (1) Notwithstanding

anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being

in force, the State Government may, by notification in the Official

Gazette.

providing for control or erection of buildings, levy and collection of

taxes, fees and other dues to the local authority which is in force in that

area shall cease to apply and thereupon such provisions shall cease to

apply thereof;

37B. Development of areas.— (1) Notwithstanding anything to the

contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force, once a

notification is issued under sub-section (1) of section 37A declaring an

industrial area as a notified area the State Government, may, by

notification in the Official Gazette, appoint a Committee consisting of

— (i) the Managing Director of the Corporation—Chairperson; (ii)

Under Secretary (Revenue) to the Government of Goa— Member; (iii)

One member nominated by the Corporation from amongst the

Directors of the Corporation having knowledge in the field of

engineering, architecture, industry, etc.— Member; (iv) Deputy Town

Planner in the Town and Country Planning Department to be

nominated by the Government— Member Secretary; to decide and

dispose of all applications for land development, permissions, No

Objection Certificate, construction of building under all local or

special laws including Goa, Daman and Diu Town and Country

Planning Act, 1974 (Act 21 of 1975) and rules framed thereunder

(hereinafter in this section referred to as the “said Act”).

(2) The Committee shall discharge all the functions of the Chief

Town Planner, Town and Country Planning Department in a non

planning area, and functions of the Planning and Development

Authority in a planning area, under the laws in force.

(3) The Committee shall have regard to the provisions of all local

laws including any regional plan, outline development plan,

comprehensive development plan or other plans prepared under the

said Act.

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(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other

law for the time being in force, permissions for any development in an

Industrial area shall be governed by the regulations framed by the

Corporation.

(5) Any person aggrieved by the decision or order made by the

Committee, may prefer an appeal to the Goa Town and Country

Planning Board. The provisions of 43 Inserted by (Amendment) Act 10

of 1991. section 45 of the said Act, and the rules framed thereunder,

shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to such appeal.” 44[Provided that the

Municipalities and the Village Panchayats which were receiving house

tax from the occupants in the industrial estates under their respective

laws, shall be compensated by the Government to the extent of the last

financial year’s collection of taxes for such period as may be

determined by the Government which shall not be less than five years].

(d) Make other provision as is necessary for the purpose of the

enforcement of the provision so provided to that area.

(2) Before the publication of a notification under sub-section (1), the

Government shall cause to be published in the Official Gazette and

also in at least one newspaper published in a language other than

English and circulating in the area to be specified in the notification,

and inviting all persons who entertain any objections to the said

proposal to submit the same in writing with reasons therefor to the

Government within two months from the date of publication of the

proclamation in the Official Gazette.

(3) No such notification under sub-section (1) shall be issued by the

Government, unless the objections, if any, so submitted under sub-

section (2) are in its opinion insufficient or invalid.

51. Power to make regulations.— (1) The Corporation may, with

the previous approval of the State Government, make regulations

consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder to carry out, the

purposes of this Act, and without prejudice to the generality of this

power such regulations may provide for:-

its accounts;

2013

The Goa (Right

of Citizens to

Time-Bound

Delivery of

Public Services)

Act, 2013

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

authority, body, Institution, legal authority, established, constituted,

formed, appointed or instituted (i) by or under the Constitution of India

in the State of Goa; or (ii) by any other law made by the State

Legislature; or (iii)by a Government Notification issued or an order

passed or otherwise set up by the Government and includes any body

owned, controlled or substantially financed or any non Governmental

organisation which has received Government grant to the tune of Rs. 5

lakhs or more; or (iv) Institutions including colleges, schools receiving

any grant or aid from the Government or recognised or permitted by

the State Government, and includes Municipality, Municipal

Corporation, Panchayat, Planning and Development Authority,

Industrial Township, Zilla Panchayat, Zilla Parishad, Gram/Village

Panchayat or local self-governing bodies, statutory or non statutory, by

whatever name called, required to render any services of public utility

in the State or to control, manage or regulate public services within a

specified local area;

(e) “eligible person” means a citizen of India residing in the state;

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(m) “specified time limit’ means the time limit within which the

designated officer is required to provide service as specified under sub-

section (1) of section 4;

3. Right to public services.—

(2) The right referred to in sub-section (1) shall include the right to–

a) have access to the public service;

b) receive the public service within a specified time limit;

6. Appeal.— (1) Any person, whose application has been rejected

under sub-section (4) of section 5, or who does not receive public

service within the specified time limit, or where the public service

received by him is deficient in any manner, may prefer an appeal to the

Appellate Authority, within a period of thirty days from the date of

such rejection or expiry of the specified time limit or receipt of

deficient service, as the case may be:

Provided that the Appellate Authority may entertain, hear and

dispose off an appeal after the expiry of the period of thirty days, if it

is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from

filing the appeal in time.

(2) The Appellate Authority shall dispose off the appeal preferred

under sub-section (1) within a period of forty-five days from the date

of presentation of the appeal;

(3) The Appellate Authority may direct the designated officer to

provide the public service within such time as it may specify but not

more than the time specified in the notification or to remove the

deficiency in public service provided to the appellant or to pass such

other order, including rejection of the appeal, as it may deem fit:

Provided that before passing any order under sub section (3), the

Appellate Authority shall provide an opportunity of being heard to the

appellant as well as to the designated officer;

16. Rights available only to eligible persons.— The rights

conferred under this Act shall be available only to the eligible persons

for every matter including the right to obtain citizen related services in

the State in accordance with the provisions of this Act; and the eligible

person shall have a further right under this Act to apply for and claim

compensation from, and/or seek imposition of penalty upon and/or

seek disciplinary action against, the defaulting designated officer

and/or Appellate Authority:

Provided that any compensation awarded and/or fine imposed shall

be paid by, and recovered from, the officer/s/persons responsible for

such lapse and not out of the exchequer of the Government.

2025

The Goa, Shops

and

Establishments

(Registration of

Employment

and Conditions

of Service) Act,

2025

1. Short title, extent, application and commencement.—

(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.

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

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,—

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(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;

(h) “factory” means factory within the meaning of the Factories Act,

1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948);

(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);

(y) “spread over” means the period between the commencement and

the termination of the work of a worker on any day;

(za) “wages” means wages as defined in the Payment of Wages Act,

1936 (Central Act 4 of 1936);

(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.—

(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;

(8) A worker in any establishment whose average monthly wages

exceed rupees twenty four thousand;

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

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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.

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;

(d) the actual nature of the business of the establishment; and

(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.

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

any

establishment

has

been

obtained

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

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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

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,

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the worker may be required to work in any shift at the discretion of

the employer.

(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.

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.

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

20. Leave. — (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);

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.

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27. Maintenance of registers and records.— (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.

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.

1974

The Goa, Town

and Country

Planning Act,

1974

49. Sanction for sub-division of plot or layout of private street

and restriction on registration of purchase, sale or transfer of

immovable property.—

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the

time being in force, where any document required to be registered

under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 29 of the Registration

Act, 1908, purports to transfer, assign, limit or extinguish the right,

title or interest of any person, in respect of plots which are not as per

Survey Plan issued by Survey Department or plots which have no

development permissions for such sub-division from Planning and

Development Authority 59[within a planning area or from the Town

and Country Planning Department within a area other than planning

area,] no registering officer appointed under the Act, shall register any

document, unless the owner of such plot produces a certificate of

sanction or a certificate of “no objection” from the Planning and

Development Authority exercising jurisdiction 60[in respect of the

planning area or from Chief Town Planner (Planning) or such officer

as may be authorized:

Provided that no such certificate of sanction or “no objection” shall

be required to be produced if the sub-division of land or the making or

layout of any property results from the right of inheritance within a

family:

Provided further that no such certificate of sanction or no objection

shall be required to be produced for the purpose of mortgaging

immovable property in favour of any financial institution notified by

the Government by a notification in the Official Gazette, for the

purpose of this Act.

———♦———

The following bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa on 31st August,

2026 is hereby published for general information in pursuance of Rule-138 of the Rules of Procedure and

Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

________

The Goa Special Courts (Land Grabbing) Bill, 2026

(Bill No. 62 of 2026)

BILL

to provide for special courts in the State of Goa for the trial of offences of land grabbing and matters

connected therewith or incidental thereto.

LA/LEGN/2026/1633

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BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

1. Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Special Courts (Land

Grabbing) Act, 2026.

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

(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 24th day of June, 2025.

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

(a) “Government” means the Government of Goa;

(b) “High Court” means the High Court of Bombay at Goa;

unscrupulously, unfairly or greedily, without any lawful entitlement, with the intention of or with a view

to,—

(i) take possession of such land illegally; or

(ii) enter into or create illegal tenancy, leave and licence agreements, or any other illegal

agreements in respect of such land; or

(iii) construct unauthorised structure thereon for sale or hire; or

(iv) give such land to any person on rental basis, or on lease, or on leave and licence basis for

construction, or for the use and occupation of unauthorised structure,

and the expression “grabbed land” shall be construed accordingly.

Explanation.—The activity referred to in this clause shall include every act done, every omission

made and every document made, executed, used, presented, registered or caused to be registered, in the

course of, or in furtherance of, or in relation to such activity;

(d) “Special Court” means a Special Court designated under Section 3 of this Act.

3. Designation of Special Courts.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the

time being in force, the Government may, with the concurrence of the High Court and by notification

published in the Official Gazette, designate one or more Courts of Session as Special Courts for the trial of

cases relating to land grabbing.

(2) Every land grabbing case shall be tried exclusively by the Special Court having jurisdiction over

the area in which the land is situated.

(3) In addition to the powers of a Court of Session, the Special Court shall have all the powers of a

Magistrate, including the power to take cognizance of offences.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, any public

prosecutor or additional public prosecutor already appointed for the Court of Session which is designated

as a special court under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of this Act, shall be deemed to be a public prosecutor

for the purposes of this Act, and he shall be authorized to conduct prosecutions before such Specials Courts

without requiring a fresh appointment.

4. Appeal.— (1) An appeal shall lie against any conviction and the sentence imposed by the Special

Court to the High Court.

(2) An appeal against an acquittal may be filed to the High Court in terms of Section 419 of the

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023).

5. Power to remove difficulties.— (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions of

this Act, the Government may, by order not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, remove the

difficulty:

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Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiration of a period of two years from the date of

commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before the

Legislative Assembly of Goa.

6. Validation.— Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, or

any judgment, decree or order of any court or other authority, any order issued, any action taken,

proceedings initiated and continued, or anything done before the commencement of this Act, which is

consistent with the provisions of this Act, shall be deemed to have been validly done as if this Act had been

in force at all material times.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

Land grabbing and the unlawful occupation of land have emerged as a matter of serious concern in the

State of Goa. Such activities often involve the unlawful taking of possession of land by deceit, fraud or

force and the creation of unauthorised interests or transactions in respect thereof. Recognising the

seriousness of the issue, the Government of Goa, by Notification dated the 9th day of September, 2022,

constituted a Commission of Inquiry under the chairmanship of Justice V. K. Jadhav (Retd.) to inquire into

cases of land grabbing in the State of Goa. The report submitted by Justice V. K. Jadhav (Retd.) observes

inter alia that land grabbing activities not only affect the rights of lawful landowners and persons in

possession, but also result in prolonged litigation and difficulties in the effective enforcement of criminal

law. The Report also recommends the establishment of Special Courts to ensure the expeditious trial and

disposal of cases.

It is, therefore, considered necessary to provide for a specialised mechanism for the expeditious trial of

offences relating to land grabbing. This Bill seeks to empower the Government, with the concurrence of the

High Court, to designate one or more Courts of Session as Special Courts for the exclusive trial pertaining

to the activity of land grabbing.

This Bill also contains provisions to remove difficulties that may arise in giving effect to the proposed

legislation and to validate actions taken prior to its commencement, which are consistent with the

provisions of the proposed Act.

The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

No additional financial implications are involved in this Bill.

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

Clause 3 of the Bill empowers the Government, with the concurrence of the High Court and by

notification published in the Official Gazette, to designate one or more Courts of Session as Special Courts

for the trial of cases relating to land grabbing.

Porvorim, Goa.

31st August, 2026.

Atanasio Monserrate

Minister for Revenue.

Assembly Hall,

Porvorim, Goa.

31st August, 2026.

Smt. Namrata Ulman

Secretary to the

Legislative Assembly of Goa.

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The following bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa on 2^nd

September, 2026 is hereby published for general information in pursuance of Rule-138 of the Rules of

Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

________

The Goa Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2026

(Bill No. 44 of 2026)

BILL

to authorise payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of

the State of Goa for the services and purposes of the financial year 2026-2027.

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of

India, as follows:—

1. Short title.— This Act may be called the Goa Appropriation (No. 4) Act, 2026.

2. Issue of Rs. 1061,15,41,000/-, out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Goa for the financial

year 2026-2027.— From and out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Goa, there may be paid and

applied sums not exceeding those specified in column (5) of the Schedule hereto amounting in the

aggregate to the sums of one thousand sixty one crore fifteen lakh forty one thousand rupees towards

defraying the several charges which will come in the course of payment during the financial year 2026-

2027 in respect of the services and for purposes specified in column (2) of the said Schedule.

3. Appropriation.— The sums authorised to be paid and applied from and out of the Consolidated

Fund of the State of Goa under this Act, shall be appropriated for the services and purposes expressed in

the said Schedule to this Act in relation to the said financial year.

---------

SCHEDULE

(See Sections 2 and 3)

(Rs. in Lakhs)

Sums not exceeding

Demand

No.

Services and purposes

Voted by

Assembly

Charged on the

Consolidated

Fund of the State

of Goa

Total

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Legislature Secretariat

2353.50

64.00

2417.50

Lok Bhavan (Charged)

0.00

250.00

250.00

General Administration and Coordination

250.00

—

250.00

District and Sessions Court, South Goa

0.01

—

0.01

Settlement and Land Records

1510.00

—

1510.00

Treasury and Accounts Administration, North Goa

2000.00

—

2000.00

Excise

350.00

—

350.00

Transport

0.02

—

0.02

Collectorate, North Goa

303.00

—

303.00

Collectorate, South Goa

0.03

—

0.03

LA/LEGN/2026/1659

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(Rs. In lakhs)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Industries, Trade and Commerce

0.03

—

0.03

Printing and Stationery

0.01

—

0.01

Public Works Department

5000.00

—

5000.00

Home

0.04

—

0.04

Home Guards and Civil Defence

0.01

—

0.01

Panchayats

0.08

—

0.08

Revenue

800.24

—

800.24

School Education

0.03

—

0.03

Higher Education

4220.53

—

4220.53

Technical Education Curchorem

0.03

—

0.03

Art and Culture

4035.53

—

4035.53

Goa Medical College

6750.05

—

6750.05

Health Services

2700.14

—

2700.14

Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour

0.01

—

0.01

Labour

3500.00

—

3500.00

Municipal Administration

2000.05

—

2000.05

Information and Publicity

6000.00

—

6000.00

Social Welfare

0.27

—

0.27

Women and Child Development

106.01

—

106.01

Factories and Boilers

0.02

—

0.02

Law

150.01

—

150.01

Agriculture

0.09

—

0.09

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services

1100.00

—

1100.00

Ports Administration

1500.00

—

1500.00

Forests

0.01

—

0.01

Handicraft, Textile and Coir

0.06

—

0.06

Civil Supplies

10000.01

—

10000.01

Cooperation

420.00

—

420.00

Water Resources

7000.06

—

7000.06

Planning, Statistics and Evaluation

5680.00

—

5680.00

Electricity

17500.00

—

17500.00

River Navigation

1026.50

—

1026.50

Tourism

3935.76

—

3935.76

Department of Tribal Welfare

150.00

—

150.00

Information Technology

3000.00

—

3000.00

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(Rs. In lakhs)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Department of Rural Development

6500.00

—

6500.00

Department of Public Private Partnership

500.12

—

500.12

Department of Empowerment of Persons with

Disabilities

90.02

—

90.02

Drinking Water Department

5000.00

—

5000.00

Collectorate, Kushavati

369.00

—

369.00

Department of Ayush

0.13

—

0.13

TOTAL

105801.41

314.00

106115.41

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2026-2027 (First Batch) was presented to the

Legislative Assembly. This Bill is introduced in pursuance of article 204 read with article 205 of the

Constitution of India to provide for appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated

Fund of the State of Goa, to meet the expenditure on certain services, granted by the Legislative Assembly

for those services, during the financial year 2026-2027.

Porvorim-Goa.

2^nd September, 2026.

DR. PRAMOD SAWANT

Finance Minister/Chief Minister.

Assembly Hall,

Porvorim, Goa.

2^nd September, 2026.

NAMRATA ULMAN

Secretary to the

Legislative Assembly of Goa.

Governor’s Recommendation under Article 207 of the Constitution of India

In pursuance of Article 207 of the Constitution of India, I, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Governor of

Goa, hereby recommend the introduction and consideration of the Goa Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2026, by

the Legislative Assembly of Goa.

———♦———

The following bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 31st August, 2026 is

hereby published for general information in pursuance of Rule-138 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct

of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

________

The Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026

(Bill No. 50 of 2026)

BILL

further to amend the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act No. 9 of 1969).

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

LA/LEGN/2026/1626

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1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Land Revenue Code

(Amendment) Act, 2026.

(2) It shall come into force at once except Section 4 which shall be deemed to have come into force on

the 10th day of April, 2026.

2. Amendment of Section 2.— In Section 2 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act No. 9 of 1969)

(hereinafter referred to as the “principal Act”),—

(i) after Clause 7, the following clause shall be inserted, namely:—

“(7A) “Common Cadre” means common cadre created under Section 4”;

(ii) after clause (30), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:—

“(30A) “Revenue Department” means Revenue Department of the Government of Goa;

(30B) “Revenue Secretary” means Secretary to Government of Goa in charge of Revenue

Department”;

(iii) after Clause (32), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:—

“(32A) “subordinate employees” means the employees working under the Revenue Department

and notified as subordinate employees under Clause (1) of sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the Code”.

3. Substitution of Section 4.— For Section 4 of the principal Act, the following section shall be

substituted, namely:—

“4. Appointment of revenue, survey and other officers and subordinate employees.— (1) The

Government, or such officer as may be authorized by Government in this behalf, may appoint the

following classes of revenue and survey officers, namely:—

(a) Collector, including Additional Collector;

(b) Director of Settlement and Land Records, including Additional Director of Settlement and

Land Records;

(d) Survey and Settlement Officers;

(e) Superintendent of Surveys and Land Records;

(f) Assistant Survey and Settlement Officers;

(g) Inspectors of Surveys and Land Records;

(h) Mamlatdars, including Joint Mamlatdars;

(i) Awal Karkuns;

(j) Revenue Inspectors;

(k) Village Accountants or Talathis; and

(l) such other officers and subordinate employees as may be specified by rules made under this

Code.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code or any other State law, the Government may,

by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute, in respect of all the Offices under the control of

Revenue Department, a common cadre of any of the Officer or subordinate employees specified in sub-

section (1).

(3) The Revenue Secretary shall be cadre controlling authority for the purpose of seniority list,

transfer and promotions of the Officers and subordinate employees specified under Clause (i), (j), (k) and

(1) of sub-section (1).”

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4. Amendment of Section 38A.— In Section 38A of the principal Act, in sub-sections (3) and (7), for

the words “six months”, the words “eighteen months” shall be substituted.

5. Amendment of Section 199.— In Section 199 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2), for Clause (i)

the following clause shall be substituted, namely.—

“(i) under Section 4, appointment of other officers and employees;”.

6. Validation of certain appeals, orders, and acts under Section 188.— (1) Notwithstanding anything

contained in any judgment, decree, or order of any Court or Tribunal to the contrary, any first appeal heard,

order passed, or proceeding conducted by the Superintendent of Surveys and Land Records under the

provisions of Clause (e) of sub-section (1) of Section 188 of this Code, prior to the commencement of the

Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2026, shall be deemed to be, and to have always been, valid

and effective as if such appeal had been heard, order passed, or proceeding conducted by an appellate

authority duly empowered and notified to be the appellate authority under the provisions of this Code and

as if such powers were vested in him at all material times under this Code.

(2) No suit, appeal, or other legal proceeding shall be maintained or continued in any Court or before

any authority merely on the ground that the Superintendent of Surveys and Land Records lacked

jurisdiction to entertain or decide such appeals.

7. Repeal and Saving.— (1) The Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance

No. 2 of 2026) is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the principal Act as

amended by the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the principal Act as

amended by this Act.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

All Group “C” and Group “D” employees of the Government of Goa working in various offices under

the Revenue Department, outside Secretariat, holding similar posts, are presently governed and controlled

by different authorities. Despite they belonging to Revenue Department their seniority is maintained

separately. Also, they cannot be transferred from one office to another within the Department.

This has resulted in administrative related difficulties in the matter of deployment, transfer and

movement of employees between different offices under the Revenue Department. There is no effective

manpower management and utilisation of available human resources. The existing arrangement also creates

practical difficulties in maintaining uniformity in cadre management and in providing suitable avenues for

mobility.

Therefore, the Bill seeks to amend Sections 2 and 4 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act No. 2

of 1969) suitably.

The Bill further seeks to amend Section 38A of the said Code so as to extend the existing time period

of 6 months to 18 months for providing reasonable time for applicants to avail benefits of Section 38A.

Clause 6 of the Bill seeks to validate certain appeals, orders and proceedings of the Superintendent of

Surveys and Land Records, passed under Section 188 of the Code.

The Bill also seeks to repeal the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance

No. 2 of 2026) promulgated by the Governor of Goa on the 10th day of April, 2026.

This Bill seeks to achieve the above objects.

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

No Financial implications are involved in this Bill.

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MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

Clause 3 of the Bill empowers the Government to issue a notification for constituting a common cadre

of Officer and subordinate employees in the Offices under the control of Revenue Department.

This delegation is of normal character.

Porvorim-Goa.

31/08/2026

ATANASIO MONSERRATE

Minister for Revenue

Assembly Hall,

Porvorim, Goa.

31/08/2026.

NAMRATA ULMAN

Secretary to the

Legislative Assembly of Goa.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extract of provisions of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 2(7) “Collector” means the Collector of the district and includes any officer appointed by the

Government to exercise and perform all or any of the powers and functions of a Collector under this Code

Section 2(30) “revenue officer” means every officer of any rank whatsoever appointed under any of

the provisions of this Code, and employed in or about the business of the land revenue or of the surveys,

assessment, accounts, or records connected therewith;

Section 2(32) “standard rate” means, with reference to any particular class of land in a group, the

value of four hundredths of the average yield of crops per hectare on land in that class of one hundred paise

classification value;

Section 4. Appointment of revenue and survey officers.— The Government, or such officer as may be

authorized by Government in this behalf, may appoint the following classes of revenue and survey officers,

namely:—

(a) Collector, including Additional Collector;

(b) Director of Settlement and Land Records;

(d) Survey and Settlement Officers;

(e) Superintendent of Surveys and Land Records;

(f) Assistant Survey and Settlement Officers;

(g) Inspectors of Surveys and Land Records;

(h) Mamlatdars, including Joint Mamlatdars;

(i) Awal karkuns;

(j) Revenue Inspectors;

(k) Village Accountants or Talathis; and

(1) Such other village officers and servants as may be specified by rules made under this Code.

Section 38A. Regularization of encroachment for unauthorized construction of dwelling house on

Government land.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code, the Goa Town and Country

Planning Act, 1974 (Act 21 of 1975), the Goa Land (Prohibition on Construction) Act, 1995 (Goa Act No.

20 of 1995), the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008 (Goa Act 6

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of 2008), the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010, the Goa Municipalities

Act, 1968 (Act No. 7 of 1969), the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Goa Act No. 14 of 1994), the City of

Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 (Goa Act 1 of 2003) or any other State law for the time being in force, where

any person has carried out unauthorized construction of a dwelling house before the 28th day of February,

2014, on a land belonging to the Government or land granted by the Government in any manner

whatsoever, such land may be regularised by the Deputy Collector by issuing an order in that regard

subject to such conditions as prescribed, conferring Class I Occupancy, upon an application being made by

the applicant and upon payment to the Government the occupancy price at such rate as may be specified by

the Government by an order published in the Official Gazette:

Provided that the Deputy Collector shall not entertain any application under sub-section (1), if the land

upon which such dwelling house has been unauthorisedly constructed falls within the limits of the

protected forest, area declared as a wild life sanctuary, area covered under the Coastal regulation zone

where such construction has been carried out after the 19th day of February, 1991, No Development Zone,

open spaces, areas covered under Eco Sensitive Zone-I, Khazan land, road set back or right of way or any

construction which causes obstruction to any natural water channel or any structure which is constructed

by filling water bodies or areas other than orchard land or cultivable land covered under Eco Sensitive

Zone-II.

Explanation.— (i) “Eco Sensitive Zone-I” means Eco Sensitive Zone-I as classified in Regional Plan

2021.

(ii) “Eco Sensitive Zone-II” means Eco Sensitive Zone -II as classified in Regional Plan 2021:

Provided further that the Deputy Collector may entertain an application under sub-section (1), if the

land upon which such dwelling house has been unauthorisedly constructed falls within the limits of the

area covered under Settlement Zone, Institutional Zone, Industrial Zone, Cultivable Zone or Orchard.

(2) The total extent of land to be regularized under this section shall comprise of only plinth area of

dwelling house and area adjoining to such dwelling house upto two meters on all sides from its outer walls,

if available. In no case the Deputy Collector shall regularize land exceeding 400 square meters:

Provided that where the encroached area exceeds above permissible limit, the Deputy Collector shall

not pass an order of regularization of land unless the applicant surrenders the excess encroached area to the

Deputy Collector and the Deputy Collector takes possession of the same.

Provided further that, where more than one dwelling house exists in close proximity on land belonging

to the Government or land granted by the Government and it is not feasible to allocate two metres of

surrounding land from the outer walls to each such dwelling house, the available land shall be apportioned

proportionately amongst them.

(3) Any person seeking regularisation under sub-section (1) shall make an application within six

months from the date of coming into force of the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2025 to the

Deputy Collector in such form, accompanied by such documents and such fees as prescribed.

(4) The Deputy Collector shall dispose of such application within a period of six months from the date

of its receipt.

(5) No person to whom Class I Occupancy is granted under this section shall be entitled to sell, assign,

or otherwise transfer the said land till the expiry of a period of twenty years from the date of such grant,

except by way of gift in favour of a family member of the applicant and such transfer shall not attract the

provisions of Section 37-B of this Code.

(6) Once the land on which the dwelling house exists is regularized under the provisions of this

section, any person who has been granted Class I occupancy may make an application under the Goa

Regularisation of Unauthorized Construction Act, 2016 (Goa Act 20 of 2016), for the purpose of

regularization of such dwelling house in accordance with the provisions contained therein.

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(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code or any other State law for the time being in force

or any Judgment/Decree/Order of any court, no such dwelling house which has been unauthorisedly

constructed before 28th day of February, 2014, shall be demolished for a period of six months from the

date of coming into force of the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2025 and in case any

application under sub-section (3) is filed, within the time limit specified thereto, then such dwelling house

shall not be demolished until the disposal of the said application.

(8) If no application is filed in accordance with sub-section (3) within the time limit specified thereto

or if such application so filed is rejected, the Deputy Collector shall initiate action against such

encroachment in accordance with law.

(9) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Deputy Collector or any officer

authorised by the Deputy Collector, in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be

done in pursuance of this section or of any rules or orders made thereunder.

(10) In case it is found that the applicant has submitted false declaration or document,— (a) the

Deputy Collector shall revoke the order passed under sub-section (1) and upon such revocation the land

regularised or allotted if any shall stand reverted to the Government;

(b) 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.

(11) An offence punishable under this Section shall be cognizable.

(12) No Court other than the Court of a Judicial Magistrate First Class shall

take cognizance of, and try, an offence under this section.

Explanation: For the purpose of this Section,—

(a) “applicant” means a landless person, who has constructed a dwelling house on Government land

before the 28th day of February, 2014, and who has been a resident of Goa for a period of not less than

fifteen years immediately preceding the said date and includes his family members in case of his death

but does not include a person or his family member who owns a plot of land, house, flat or apartment or

an undivided share in ancestral property which on the date of making an application has been separately

allotted to him;

(b) “dwelling house” means a house where the applicant or his family members reside with a fixed

habitation and is exclusively used by him or his family members for the purpose of their dwelling and is

allotted a number by the local authority;

daughter, widowed granddaughter.

188. Appeals.— (1) Save as otherwise expressly provided, an appeal shall lie from every original

order, other than an interim order passed under this Code—

(a) if such an order is passed by an officer subordinate to the Sub-Divisional Officer, to the Sub-

Divisional Officer;

(b) if such an order is passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, to the Collector;

(d) if such an order is passed by an Assistant Survey and Settlement Officer, to the Survey and

Settlement Officer or to a revenue officer notified by the Government in the Official Gazette to be the

appellate authority;

(e) if such an order is passed by a Survey and Settlement Officer, to the Director of Settlement and

Land Records or to a revenue officer notified to be the appellate authority; and

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(f) if such an order is passed by the Inspector of Surveys and Land Records, to the Superintendent of

Surveys and Land Records.

(2) A second appeal shall lie against any order passed in first appeal:

(a) if the first appeal was filed under Clause (a) of sub-section (1), to the Collector;

(b) if the first appeal was filed under Clause (b) of sub-section (1), to the Tribunal;

Land Records or to a Revenue Officer notified by the Government in the Official Gazette to be the

second appellate authority; and

(d) if the first appeal was filed under Clause (e) or (f) of sub-section (1), to the Tribunal.

Section 199. Power to make rules.— (1) The Government may, by notification in the Official

Gazette, make rules for carrying into effect the provisions of this Code.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, such rules may

provide for all or any of the following matters:—

(i) under Section 4, appointment of other village officers, and servants;

(ii) under Section 8, the registers, accounts and other records to be kept by the village officers;

(iii) under Section 9, the powers and duties to be performed by the officers specified in Clauses (b),

(d), (e), (f) and (g) of Section 4;

(iv) under Section 21, rules for the disposal of land belonging to or vesting in the Central

Government;

(v) under sub-section (1) of Section 22, rules for the disposal of alluvial land;

(vi) under sub-section (4) of Section 24, the premium to be paid;

(vii) under Section 26, the rules subject to which the Collector may lease under grant or contract any

unoccupied land;

(viii) under Section 31, the rules subject to which the Collector or survey officer may regulate or

prohibit the use of land for other purposes and summarily evict any holder who uses such land for such

prohibited purpose;

(ix) under sub-section (1), of Section 32 the form of application for permission to convert the use of

land from one purpose to another; under Clause (c) of sub-section (2), of Section 32 the rules subject to

which permission for change of user may be granted. by the Collector; and under sub-section (3), of

Section 32 the conditions subject to which the permission for change of user shall be deemed to have

been granted under sub-section (5), of Section 32 the rules prescribing the fine penalty which the

defaulter shall be liable to pay; and under sub-section (6) of Section 32 the form in which sanad shall be

granted to the holder for non-agricultural use;

(x) under sub-section (1) of Section 33, the rules prescribing the fine penalty to be paid as penalty

for using land without permission;

(xi) under Section 35, the rules subject to which the Collector may regularize the non-agricultural

use of any land;

(xii) under sub-section (9) of Section 36, the rules to regulate the extraction and removal of minor

minerals;

(xiii) under Section 38, the rules subject to which the land shall be granted to the encroacher;

(xiv) under Section 46, rules subject to which holding shall be disposed of;

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(xv) under Section 50, the rules subject to which a holder of land shall be entitled to decrease of'

assessment;

(xvi) under sub-section (2), of Section 51, rules according to which the assessment may be altered;

(xvii) under Section 52, the rules in accordance with which reduction, suspension or remission of

land revenue in any area may be granted;

(xviii) under Section 60, the rules in accordance with which the records of the area and assessment

of survey numbers and sub-divisions thereof shall be maintained;

(xix) under Section 61, the rules in accordance with which the Collector may divide the holding and

apportion assessment thereof and the limits of area of land revenue below which partition may be

rejected;

(xx) under Section 66, the rate of survey fee;

(xxi) under Section 67, the form of sanad;

———♦———

The following bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa on 31st August,

2026 is hereby published for general information in pursuance of Rule-138 of the Rules of Procedure and

Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

________

The Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961

(Amendment) Bill, 2026

(Bill No. 51 of 2026)

BILL

further to amend the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961, in its application to the State of Goa.

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the

Republic of India as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070

dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment) Act, 2026.

(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 10th day of April, 2026.

2. Amendment of Article 372-B.— In Article 372-B of the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961

(hereinafter referred to as the “principal Act”),— in Clause (3) and (16), for the words “six months”, the

words “eighteen months” shall be substituted.

3. Repeal and Savings.— (1) The Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment)

Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance No. 3 of 2026) is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the principal Act, as

amended by the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the principal Act, as

amended by this Act.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

Article 372-B was inserted in the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 with the objective

for providing a one-time measure for regularization of encroachment made on comunidade land, by

constructing a dwelling house by a landless person prior to 28/02/2014. The provision was enacted to

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address the long-standing concerns of such occupants who have been residing in Goa for a considerable

period and whose dwelling house constitute their only place of residence. While the said provision

safeguards the ownership rights of the Comunidade by ensuring that the benefits of regularization is

confined to the extent specified under the law, the comunidade is compensated adequately and the excess

land occupied by such occupants is reverted to comunidade.

The period prescribed for submission of application under said Article 372-B was 6 months. However,

it has been observed that a significant number of eligible persons could not apply within the stipulated time

period due to various constraints.

The Bill, therefore, seeks to amend Article 372-B to extend the existing time period of six months for

filing applications to eighteen months and accordingly amend Clause (3) and (16) of Article 372-B.

The Bill also seeks to repeal the Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment)

Ordinance, 2026, promulgated by the Governor of Goa on 10/04/2026.

This Bill seeks to achieve the above objects.

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

No Financial implications are involved in this Bill.

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

No delegated legislation is envisaged in this Bill.

Porvorim-Goa.

31/08/2026

ATANASIO MONSERRATE

Minister for Revenue

Assembly Hall,

Porvorim, Goa.

31/08/2026.

NAMRATA ULMAN

Secretary to the

Legislative Assembly of Goa.

ANNEXURE

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extract of Article 372-B of the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“372-B. Regularization of encroachment for unauthorized construction of dwelling house.— (1)

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code, the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act 9 of 1969), the

Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 (Act 21 of 1975), the Goa Land (Prohibition on Construction)

Act, 1995 (Goa Act No. 20 of 1995), the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building

Construction) Act, 2008 (Goa Act 6 of 2008), the Goa Land Development and Building Construction

Regulations, 2010, the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 (Act 7 of 1969), the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994

(Goa Act 14 of 1994), the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 (Goa Act 1 of 2003) or any other State law

for the time being in force, where any person has carried out unauthorized construction of a dwelling

house, before the 28^th day of February, 2014, on a land belonging to the Comunidade, without such land

being lawfully granted to him as per the provisions of this Code, the grant/allotment of such encroached

land may be regularised by such officer, not below the rank of Senior Scale Officer of the Goa Civil

Service, as may be authorised by the Government by a notification in the Official Gazette, by passing an

order of regularization of grant/allotment of such land, subject to such conditions as may be specified by

him, upon an application being made by the applicant and upon depositing by him with the authorised

officer compensation amount, to be paid to the concerned Comunidade, at such rate as may be specified by

the Government by an order published in the Official Gazette. For deciding such application the authorized

officer shall follow the procedure as specified in Clauses (5) and (13):

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Provided that the authorised officer shall not entertain any application under clause (1), if the land

upon which such dwelling house has been unauthorisedly constructed falls within the limits of the

agricultural land held by a tenant under the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964 (Act 7 of 1964), protected

forest, area declared as a wild life sanctuary, area covered under the Coastal regulation zone where such

construction has been carried out after the 19^th day of February 1991, No Development Zone, open spaces,

areas covered under Eco Sensitive Zone-I, Khazan land, road set back or right of way or any construction

which causes obstruction to any natural water channel or any structure which is constructed by filling water

bodies, or areas other than orchard land or cultivable land covered under Eco Sensitive Zone-II.

Explanation.— (i) “Eco Sensitive Zone-I” means Eco Sensitive Zone-I as classified in Regional Plan

2021.

(ii) “Eco Sensitive Zone-II” means Eco Sensitive Zone -II as classified in Regional Plan 2021:

Provided further that the authorised officer may entertain an application under Clause (1), if the land

upon which such dwelling house has been unauthorisedly constructed falls within the limits of the area

covered under Settlement Zone, Institutional Zone, Industrial Zone, Cultivable Zone or Orchard.

(2) The total extent of land to be regularized under this article shall comprise of only plinth area of

dwelling house and area adjoining to such dwelling house upto two meters on all sides from its outer walls,

if available. In no case the authorised officer shall regularize land exceeding 300 square meters:

Provided that where the encroached area exceeds the above permissible limit, the authorised officer

shall not pass an order of regularisation of land unless the applicant surrenders the excess encroached area

to the Administrator and the Administrator takes possession of the same for handing it over to the

concerned Comunidade:

Provided further that where more than one dwelling house exists in close proximity and it is not

feasible to allocate two meters of surrounding land from the outer walls to each such dwelling house, the

available land shall be apportioned proportionately amongst them.

(3) The Application referred in Clause (1) shall be made to the authorised officer within a period of six

months from the date of coming into force of the Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961

(Amendment) Act, 2025 in such form, accompanied by such documents and such fees as prescribed.

(4) The authorised officer shall dispose of such application within a period of six months from the date

of its receipt:

Provided that for calculating the said period of six months, the period from the date of filing of appeal

under Clause (10) and/or revision under Clause (12), if any, upto disposal of such appeal and/or revision

shall not be taken into consideration.

(5) The authorised officer shall not decide on such application for regularisation unless applicant

furnishes,—

(i) the explicit consent for regularisation of land of the concerned Comunidade given through its

Attorney, or

(ii) the deemed consent for regularisation of land as,—

(a) certified by the Administrator under Clause (9), or

(b) confirmed by the Administrator in appeal under Clause (10), or

(6) For the purpose of obtaining consent of the Comunidade for regularisation of grant of land upon

which the applicant has carried out unauthorised construction of a dwelling house, he shall make an

application to the concerned Comunidade in such form as prescribed immediately upon making application

under Clause (1). The Comunidade shall not unreasonably or arbitrarily withhold or refuse its consent.

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(7) The Comunidade shall take a decision on the request made in the application under Clause (6)

within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of such application.

(8) Where the Comunidade refuses to give its consent, it shall within a period of fifteen days from the

date of decision of such refusal, communicate its decision in writing to the applicant and also to the

Administrator, clearly stating the reasons for such refusal.

(9) If the Comunidade fails to,—

(i) take a decision on the application within the time limit specified in Clause (7); or

(ii) communicate its decision in writing to the applicant about refusal of consent or otherwise within

the time limit specified in Clause (8),

after expiry of forty-five days from the date of receipt of such application by the Comunidade, the

consent shall be deemed to have been given and the applicant shall make an application to the

Administrator, who shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of such application, issue

a certificate in such form as prescribed confirming that the consent of the concerned Comunidade as

deemed to have been given.

(10) Where the Comunidade refuses to give its consent, the applicant may prefer an appeal to the

Administrator within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of the communication of refusal from

the Comunidade. The Administrator shall dispose of such appeal within a period of thirty days from the

date of its receipt after hearing the applicant and the Comunidade.

(11) The Administrator may, while disposing of such appeal or otherwise, treat the consent of the

concerned Comunidade as deemed to have been given in cases including but not limited to any of the

following circumstances, and may accordingly pass an order confirming that the consent of the

Comunidade is deemed to have been given,—

(i) where the applicant has been in continuous and peaceful possession of the dwelling house

unauthorisedly constructed on a land belonging to the Comunidade before the 28^th day of February,

2014, without such land being lawfully granted to him as per the provisions of this Code, at least for a

period of twelve years and no legal proceedings have been initiated by the Comunidade in respect of

such encroachment during the said twelve year period since such encroachment; or

(ii) where, without following the procedure as laid down in this Code, the Comunidade or any of the

member of its Managing Committee has,—

(a) issued a no objection certificate or any other document conveying consent to the applicant for

occupation and/or use of the said land before construction of such dwelling house; or

(b) accepted any payment from the applicant as compensation in respect of the land encroached

by the applicant and deposited the said amount in the coffers of the concerned Comunidade.

(12) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Administrator may file a revision application before

the Government. The Government shall dispose of such revision application within a period of sixty days

from the date of its filing.

(13) Upon receipt of,—

(i) the explicit consent of the concerned Comunidade given through its Attorney, or

(ii) the deemed consent as,—

(a) certified by the Administrator under Clause (9), or

(b) confirmed by the Administrator in appeal under Clause (10), or

the authorized officer shall issue a notice to the Attorney of the concerned Comunidade directing him

to submit his reply within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of such notice. If no reply is

received within the said period, it shall be presumed that the Comunidade has no objection for

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regularisation of grant of such land to the applicant. After submission of reply by the Attorney within the

said period of fifteen days or on failure to submit reply within the said period of fifteen days, whichever is

earlier, the authorised officer shall scrutinize the application received under clause (1) and after holding

such enquiry as he deems fit, decide such application by passing an appropriate order.

(14) No such land the grant of which is regularized by the authorized officer by passing an order under

Clause (13) shall be sold, assigned or otherwise transferred to any person till the expiry of a period of

twenty years from the date of such order except by way of gift in favour of a family member of the

applicant.

(15) Once the land on which the dwelling house exists is regularized under the provisions of this

article, the applicant may make an application under the Goa Regularisation of Unauthorized Construction

Act, 2016 (Goa Act 20 of 2016) for the purpose of regularization of such dwelling house in accordance

with the provisions contained therein.

(16) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code or any other law for the time being in force or

any Judgment/Decree/Order of any court, no such dwelling house which has been unauthorisedly

constructed on a land belonging to the Comunidade, before the 28^th day of February, 2014, without such

land being lawfully granted as per the provisions of this Code, shall be demolished till the expiry of six

months from the date of coming into force of the Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961

(Amendment) Act, 2025 and in case any application is filed under Clause (1) within the time limit specified

in Clause (3), then such dwelling house shall not be demolished till disposal of such application.

(17) If no application is filed within the time limit specified in Clause (3) or if such application so filed

is rejected, the Administrator shall initiate action against such dwelling house in accordance with law.

(18) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Authorized Officer,

Administrator or any officer authorised by the Authorized Officer, in respect of anything which is in good

faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this article or of any rules or orders made thereunder.

(19) In case it is found that the applicant has obtained an order of regularisation on the basis of a false

declaration or document,—

(a) the Authorized Officer shall revoke the order passed under Clause (1) and upon such revocation

the land regularized or allotted, if any, shall stand reverted to the concerned Comunidade; and

(b) the applicant shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years

and with fine which may extend to rupees one lakh.

(20) An offence punishable under this article shall be cognizable.

(21) No Court other than the Court of a Judicial Magistrate First Class shall take cognizance of, and

try an offence under this article.

Explanation: For the purpose of this article,—

(a) “applicant” means a landless person, who has constructed a dwelling house, before the 28^th day

of February, 2014, on a land belonging to the Comunidade, without such land being lawfully granted to

him as per the provisions of this Code, and who has been a resident of Goa for a period of not less than

fifteen years immediately preceding the said date and includes his family members in case of his death

but does not include a person or his family member who owns a plot of land, house, flat or apartment or

an undivided share in ancestral property which on the date of making an application has been separately

allotted to him;

(b) “authorised officer” means the officer as authorised by the Government under Clause (1);

habitation and is exclusively used by him or his family members for the purpose of their dwelling and is

allotted a number by the local authority;

(d) “family member” means the applicant’s spouse, son and unmarried daughter and includes

grandson, widowed daughter and widowed granddaughter.

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The following bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa on 31st August,

2026 is hereby published for general information in pursuance of Rule-138 of the Rules of Procedure and

Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

________

The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2026

(Bill No. 53 of 2026)

BILL

further to amend the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 (Goa Act 7 of 1969).

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the

Republic of India as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Municipalities (Amendment)

Act, 2026.

(2) It shall come into force at once except Clause (A) of Section 2 and Sections 3 and 4 which shall be

deemed to have come into force on the 22nd day of April, 2026.

2. Amendment of Section 9.— In Section 9 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 (Goa Act No. 7 of

1969) (hereinafter referred to as the “principal Act”), in sub-section (2),—

(A) in Clause (a),—

(i) in item (i),—

(a) for the figures “2500”, the figures “3000” shall be substituted;

(b) for the words “voters in the municipal area” the word “population” shall be substituted;

(ii) in item (ii),—

(a) for the figures “2500”, the figures “3000” shall be substituted;

(b) for the words “voters in the municipal area”, the word “population” shall be substituted;

(B) in Clause (bb), for the words “shall be twenty seven percent” the words “may be twenty- seven

percent” shall be substituted;

“(d) For the purpose of determining the number of seats under Clauses (b) and (c) above a

“fraction of such proportion, if less than one- half shall be ignored and if one- half or more shall be

reckoned as one”.

3. Substitution of Section 10.— For Section 10 of the principal Act, the following Section shall be

substituted, namely:—

“10. Division of Municipal areas into wards and reservation of wards.— (1) Upon issuance of the

order under sub-section (2) of Section 9, the State Election Commission shall, by order published in the

Official Gazette, fix for each or any municipal area, the number of the wards into which such area shall

be divided.

(2) The State Election Commission shall thereafter undertake the exercise of delimitation of the

wards so specified in each or any Municipal area within a period of 60 days from the date of publication

of the order in the Official Gazette, under sub-section (1).

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(3) The State Election Commission shall prepare a draft of delimitation of wards with respect to

each or any municipal area and publish it in the Official Gazette inviting objections and suggestions

from the public within a period of 30 days from the date of publication of draft of delimitation in the

Official Gazette. The objections and suggestions received in writing shall be considered by the State

Election Commission and a final notification of delimitation shall be issued by the State Election

Commission in consultation with the Government, in respect of each or any municipal area within a

period of 30 days from the last date for submitting such objections.

(4) An empirical data pertaining to political backwardness shall be obtained by the State Election

Commission from the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes in respect of each or any municipal

area and the wards, based on the final notification of delimitation issued under sub-section (3).

(5) Upon receipt of the data under sub-section (4) from the Goa State Commission for Backward

Classes, the State Election Commission shall publish a draft of reservation of seats in the Official

Gazette in respect of each or any municipal area inviting objections/suggestions from the public within a

period of 30 days.

(6) Upon receipt of objections/suggestions in writing and considering the same the State Election

Commission shall publish the final notification of reservation in the Official Gazette, in consultation

with the Government, with respect to each or any municipal area, within a period of 30 days from the

last date for submitting such objections.

(7) After expiry of 30 days from the date of publication of the final notification of reservation, the

State Election Commission shall declare elections to each or any of the municipal area.

(8) Each of the ward shall elect only one Councillor.

(9) Every order/notification issued under sub-sections (1), (3) and (6) shall take effect, for the

purpose of the ensuing general election, immediately following the date of such order/notification, as the

case may be.

Explanation: In all cases where objections/suggestions from the public are invited, the same shall be

submitted in writing, however, no opportunity of personal hearing shall be afforded to the parties.

(10) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent women or persons belonging to the

Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Class for whom seats are reserved in any

Council, from standing for election and being elected to any of the seats which are not reserved.".

4. Amendment of Section 11.— In Section 11 of the principal Act,—

(i) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

“(1) The electoral roll of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa prepared under the

provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (Act 43 of 1950) and for the time being in

force on such date as the State Election Commission may by general or special order notify in this

behalf for such constituency of the Assembly or any part thereof as is included in the municipal area,

shall be divided into different wards in the municipal area; and a printed copy of the roll so divided

and authenticated by such officer shall be the list of voters for each ward. The ward lists shall

collectively be deemed to be the municipal voters list.";

(ii) for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

“(3) At least thirty days prior to the date of the notification for election, such officer shall keep

open for public inspection at the municipal office and at such other places in the municipal area as the

State Election Commission may fix, copies of the list of voters of each ward maintained under sub-

section (2).”.

5. Repeal and saving.— (1) The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance No. 4

of 2026) is hereby repealed.

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(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the principal Act, as

amended by the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the principal Act, as

amended by this Act.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Bill seeks to amend Clause (a) in sub-section (2) of Section 9 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968

(Goa Act 7 of 1969) so as to ensure fair election with proper representations of the people from the wards

of the local bodies in accordance with the population in Municipal area.

The Bill also seeks to amend Clause (bb) of sub-section (2) of Section 9 of the said Act in view of

judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of K. Krishna Murthy, and Vikas Kishanrao Gawali

(2021) 6 Supreme Court Cases 73 to bring clarity to the reservation of persons to the category of Other

Backward Class due to empirical data pertaining to political backwardness.

The Bill further seeks to insert Clause (d) in sub-section (2) of Section 9 of the said Act in view of

judgement of Hon’ble High Court of Bombay at Goa in Writ Petition No. 2920 and 2924 of 2025 (F) in the

case of Mr. Manuel Borges and Mr. Moreno Carlos Rebelo, wherein the fraction less than 0.5 is ignored

and hence the clarity in determining the number of seats in reservation when there is fraction has been

incorporated.

The Bill also seeks to substitute Section 10 of the said Act so as to provide time for public

participation in completion of election process in a time bound manner at different stage, from division of

Municipal areas to the reservation of seats by calling objection/suggestion from the public within the

stipulated period before publishing the final Notification. Also it provides for procedure and time in respect

of empirical data in respect of political backwardness, thereby conducting Election in free and fair manner,

transparent and public participation.

The Bill also seeks to amend Section 11 of the said Act to consider the electoral roll of the Legislative

Assembly of the State of Goa prepared under the provision of the Representation of the People Act, 1950

(Act 43 of 1950) for the conduct the Municipal election under this Act.

The Bill also seeks to repeal the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance No. 4

of 2026) promulgated by the Governor of Goa on 22/04/2026.

This Bill seeks to achieve the above objects.

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

No Financial implications are involved in this Bill.

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

No delegated legislation is envisaged in this Bill.

Porvorim-Goa.

26/08/2026

VISHWAJIT P. RANE

Minister for Urban Development

Assembly Hall,

Porvorim, Goa.

26/08/2026.

NAMRATA ULMAN

Secretary to the

Legislative Assembly of Goa.

ANNEXURE

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Extract of The Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 (Act 7 of 1969)

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9. Composition of Councils. (1) Save as otherwise provided by this Act, every Council shall consist

of Councillors elected at ward elections;

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Provided that—

(1) in every Council, no less than (1/3) seats shall be reserved for women;

(2) in every Council, seat shall also be reserved for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Other

Backward Class and for woman belonging to Scheduled Caste, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes

and Other Backward Class as provided Class as provided in sub-section (2).

(2) The State Election Commission in consultation with the Government shall from time to time by an

order published in the Official Gazette fix for each municipal area—

(a) the number of elected Councillors in accordance with the following table:

Class of Municipal

area

Number of elected Councillors

(i)

‘A’ Class

The minimum number of elected Councillors shall be “[20], and (for every

“[2500] of the “[voters in the municipal area) or part thereof) above 50,000

there shall be one additional elected Councillor, so, however, that the total

number of elected Councillors shall not exceed [25];

(ii)

‘B’ Class

The minimum number of elected Councillor shall be “[12], and {for every

[2500] of the “[voters in the municipal area] or part thereof) “[above

10,000] there shall be one additional elected Councillor, so, however, that

the total number of elected Councillors shall not exceed”[20];

(iii)

the figure in (i) and (ii) shall be odd, if possible.

(iv)

‘C’ Class

The number of elected Councillors shall be 10.

(b) the number of seats, if any, to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or the

Other Backward Class so that such number shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the

number of elected Councillors as the population of the Scheduled Castes or of the Scheduled Tribes or

Other Backward Class in the municipal area bears to the total population of that area and not less than

one-third of such seats shall be reserved for women and such seats shall be allotted by rotation to

different wards in the Council.

(bb) the number of seats, if any, to be reserved for persons belonging to the category of Other

Backward Classes so that such number shall be twenty seven percent of the number of seats to be filled

in through section in the Council and such seats shall be allotted by rotation to different wards in the

Council.

Scheduled Tribes and women so that such number will bear as nearly as may be, the same proportion to

the number of elected Councillors as the population of the [Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribe in the

municipal area bears to the total population of that area and such seats shall be allotted by rotation to

different constituencies in a Council.]

(3) The reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made by an order under sub-

section (2) shall cease to have effect when the reservation of seats for those Castes and Tribes in the House

of the People ceases to have effect under the Constitution of India:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall render any person elected to any such reserved seat

ineligible to continue as a Councillor during the term of office for which he was duly elected by reason

only of the fact that the reservation of seats has so ceased to have effect.

(4) Every order under sub-section (2) shall take effect for the purposes of the next general election of

the Council immediately following after the date of the order.

10. Division of municipal area into wards and reservation of wards for women, Scheduled Castes,

Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class].— (1) The State Election Commission in consultation with

the Government shall from time to time by order published in the Official Gazette, fix for each municipal

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area the number and the extent of the wards into which such area shall be divided. The State Election

Commission in consultation with the Government shall specify in the order the ward in which a seat is

reserved for women but in so doing he shall ensure that such a seat its reserved for women but in so doing

he shall ensure that such a seat its reserved from time to time by rotation in different wards of the

municipal area. He shall by a like order specify the wards in which seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes,

Scheduled Tribes or the Other Backward Class, including the seats for offices of Chairperson having regard

to the concentration of population of those Castes, or Tribes, or as the case may be, of those class, in any

particular wards:

Provided that such order be issued at least seven days before the date of notification of the general

election.

(2) Each of the wards shall elect only one Councillor.

(3) Every order issued under sub-section (1) shall take effect for the purpose of the next general

election immediately following the date of such order.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent women or persons belonging to the Scheduled

Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Class for whom seats are reserved in any Council, from

standing for election and being elected to any of the seats which are not reserved.

11. List of voters.— (1) The electoral roll of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa prepared

under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and for the time being in force on such

date as the State Election Commission may by general or special order notify in this behalf (being a date

not earlier than one month from such notification for such constituency of the Assembly or any part therof

as is included in the municipal area, shall be divided into different sections corresponding to the different

wards in the area; and a printed copy of each section of the roll so divided and authenticated by such

officer shall be the list of voters for each ward. The ward lists shall collectively be deemed to be the

municipal voters’ list.

(2) Such officer shall maintain the lists of voters prepared under sub-section (1) and the lists so

maintained shall be deemed to be the authentic lists for all elections under this Act.

(3) At least ten days before the last date fixed for nomination of candidates for every general election,

such officer shall keep open for public inspection at the municipal office and at such other places in the

municipal area as the State Election Commission may fix, copies of the list of voters of each ward

maintained under sub-section (2).

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