INDEX

Department

Type

Subject

Page No

Law

Not.- 8/4/2026-LA/136

The Goa Municipalities (Amendment)

Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance No. 4 of

2026).

GOVERNMENT OF GOA

Department of Law

Legal Affairs Division

Notification

The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance No. 4 of 2026), which has been

promulgated by the Hon’ble Governor of Goa on 22-04-2026, is hereby published for the general

information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

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The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026

Ordinance No. 4 of 2026

Promulgated by the Governor of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

I, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Governor of Goa, in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of

India, promulgate, “The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026”.

An Ordinance further to amend the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 (Goa Act No. 7 of 1969).

Whereas, the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa is not in session and the Governor of Goa is

satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 213 of the Constitution of

India, I am pleased to promulgate the following Ordinance, namely:—

8/4/2026-LA/136

Date : 23-Apr-2026

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

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

RNI No. GOAENG/2002/6410

Panaji, 23rd April, 2026 (Vaisakha 3, 1948)

SERIES I No. 4

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Ordinance may be called the Goa Municipalities

(Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.

(2) It shall come into force at once.

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), in Clause (a),—

(i) in item (i),—

(a) for the figures “2500”, the figures “3000” shall be substituted;

(b) for the word “voters”, the word “population” shall be substituted;

(ii) in item (ii),—

(a) for the figures “2500”, the figures “3000” shall be substituted;

(b) for the word “voters”, the word “population” shall be substituted

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).

(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 written 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.

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.

OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA

SERIES I No. 4

23RD APRIL, 2026

(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)”.

Place: Lok Bhavan,

Dona Paula, Goa.

Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju

Governor of Goa

OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA

SERIES I No. 4

23RD APRIL, 2026

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Price—Rs. 3.00

PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT PRINTING PRESS, PANAJI-GOA—35/100-4/2026.