EXTRAORDINARY

GOVERNMENT OF GOA

Department of Law

Legal Affairs Division

Notification

The Goa Ease of Doing Business (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2026 (Goa Act 19 of 2026),

which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 02/09/2026 and assented to by the Governor

of Goa on 18/09/2026, is hereby published for the general information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

---------

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

(Goa Act 19 of 2026)

[18-09-2026]

ACT

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.

7/28/2026-LA/173

Date : 18-Sep-2026

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, 18th September, 2026 (Bhadra 27, 1948)

SERIES I No. 25

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

(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.

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:—

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“(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.”.

(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.”

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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.

(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.”;

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(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:—

“(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:

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“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;

(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:—

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“(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;”.

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

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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.

(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.”

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2025

The Goa, Shops

and

Establishments

(Registration of

Employment

and Conditions

of Service) Act,

2025

(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.”.

(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.

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(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.

(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.

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(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;

(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.”

Secretariat,

Porvorim-Goa.

Dated: 18-09-2026.

SANDIP JACQUES

Secretary to the Government of Goa,

Law Department (Legal Affairs).

———♦———

Notification

The Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Goa Act 21 of

2026), which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 02/09/2026 and assented to by the

Governor of Goa on 11/09/2026, is hereby published for the general information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

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The Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment) Act, 2026

(Goa Act 21 of 2026)

[11-09-2026]

ACT

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 Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

7/20/2026-LA/174

Date : 18-Sep-2026

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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.

Secretariat,

Porvorim-Goa.

Dated: 18-09-2026.

SANDIP JACQUES

Secretary to the Government of Goa,

Law Department (Legal Affairs).

———♦———

Notification

The Goa Special Courts (Land Grabbing) Act, 2026 (Goa Act 20 of 2026), which has been passed by

the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 02/09/2026 and assented to by the Governor of Goa on 11/09/2026, is

hereby published for the general information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

---------

The Goa Special Courts (Land Grabbing) Act, 2026

(Goa Act 20 of 2026)

[11-09-2026]

ACT

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.

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,—

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(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:

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.

Secretariat,

Porvorim-Goa.

Dated: 18-09-2026.

SANDIP JACQUES

Secretary to the Government of Goa,

Law Department (Legal Affairs).

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Notification

The Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Goa Act 22 of 2026), which has been passed

by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 02/09/2026 and assented to by the Governor of Goa on 11/09/2026,

is hereby published for the general information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

---------

The Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2026

(Goa Act 22 of 2026)

[11-09-2026]

ACT

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:-

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;

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(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).”

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.

Secretariat,

Porvorim-Goa.

Dated: 18-09-2026.

SANDIP JACQUES

Secretary to the Government of Goa,

Law Department (Legal Affairs).

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Price—Rs. 15.00

PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT PRINTING PRESS, PANAJI-GOA—202/100-9/2026.