The Goa government’s decision to set up Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and dedicated Special Courts to tackle the rampant menace of land grabbing is a landmark move that deserves appreciation. This initiative, announced by the Chief Minister, carries the potential to bring relief to thousands of Goans — particularly elderly citizens and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) — whose ancestral or purchased lands have been usurped through fraud, forgery, and brazen encroachment.
Land grabbing in Goa is not a new phenomenon. For decades, unscrupulous individuals have exploited loopholes in record-keeping, manipulated outdated land registries, forged documents, and colluded with local officials to take possession of properties belonging to others. NRIs and elderly landowners have been especially vulnerable. In many cases, they discover too late that their land has been sold off or built upon without their knowledge, leaving them in protracted legal battles.
The Chief Minister’s announcement of Special Courts — one each in North and South Goa — is significant because it sends an unequivocal message: land grabbers will no longer be able to count on endless delays and systemic apathy to escape justice. When cases are filed in regular courts, they get buried under the weight of thousands of pending civil suits, leading to years of frustration for victims. A dedicated judicial forum, backed by SITs with the mandate to swiftly investigate, can break this vicious cycle.
Equally important is the assurance that complaints will be treated seriously and that the state machinery will proactively assist genuine landholders in recovering their property. For too long, citizens have been made to feel like petitioners pleading before indifferent officials, while well-connected land sharks enjoyed impunity. If the government translates this new resolve into prompt action, it will help restore faith in the rule of law and in the state’s commitment to protecting Goan identity and heritage.
However, while the policy intention is laudable, the success of this crackdown will hinge on several factors. First, the Special Investigation Teams must be composed of officers of proven integrity and competence. Inquiries into land scams often falter because investigators lack the expertise to decipher fraudulent title transfers and forged deeds. Professional training, technological tools like digitised land records, and clear accountability mechanisms are essential.
Second, the Special Courts must be empowered to deliver time-bound decisions. Too often, even ‘special’ courts succumb to adjournment culture, defeating the very purpose for which they were set up. The government should prescribe a reasonable timeline for disposing of cases — perhaps within six months — and ensure that these courts have adequate staff and resources to avoid becoming overburdened.
Third, there must be transparency in the process. Many victims of land grabbing are elderly Goans who may not have the financial means or the stamina to pursue complex litigation. The state must consider creating a dedicated legal aid cell to help them prepare and file complaints. It should also launch an awareness campaign to educate landowners about their rights and the procedure to approach the Special Courts.
Finally, the state needs to strengthen the digitalisation of land records and make mutation entries more secure. It is alarming how easily fraudsters have been able to tamper with old records and fabricate sale deeds. Technology can close these gaps. A centralised, tamper-proof digital record, accessible online to all landowners, will be a strong deterrent against illegal transfers.
In recent years, Goa has witnessed an alarming erosion of community ownership and traditional livelihoods because of illegal land grabbing and speculation. For many families, their land is not just an asset but a link to their heritage. By moving decisively against this crime, the government has an opportunity to protect both individual property rights and the cultural fabric of the state.
The Chief Minister has set the right tone with this announcement. What remains to be seen is whether this resolve will translate into sustained enforcement. Goa’s citizens — especially those who have silently suffered the loss of their land — will be watching closely. This time, they deserve nothing less than results.
