The passage of the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marks a major turning point in the state’s long and often contentious history of land rights. By introducing Section 38A, the government has attempted to provide long-awaited legal relief to thousands of Goan families who have built homes on government or granted land before February 28, 2014. On paper, the intent is commendable: to regularise homes that have stood for decades, offering legal protection to families who might otherwise be living in bureaucratic limbo. However, while the legislation provides much-needed clarity and security, it also raises important questions about transparency, implementation, and equity.
A Positive Framework, But Not a Cure-All
The core provision — empowering Deputy Collectors to issue Class I Occupancy certificates based on application and payment — introduces a structured pathway to legalise such properties. Limiting regularisation to the house’s plinth area plus a modest buffer of 2 metres on each side (with a cap of 400 sq. mtrs) ensures the process does not become a backdoor for legalising illegal land grabs or speculative encroachments. The mandatory surrender of excess land and a 20-year prohibition on sale or transfer are, in theory, important safeguards to prevent real estate profiteering.
Yet, implementation is everything.
Discretion and the Danger of Rent-Seeking
While the Deputy Collector is now empowered to issue Occupancy Certificates, the Bill does not lay down any detailed procedural transparency or accountability mechanisms. This opens the door to discretionary interpretation, and in a state where land-related corruption is not unheard of, such discretionary powers must be tightly regulated. Without oversight, these powers could easily be abused — not to serve genuine homeowners, but to benefit well-connected individuals or those willing to pay under the table.
Additionally, no grievance redressal mechanism or appellate body has been outlined for those who may be denied regularisation unfairly or are unable to afford the “occupancy price.” This omission could push vulnerable families further into distress or legal limbo.
Who Truly Benefits?
One of the larger concerns is whether this legislation will genuinely serve low- and middle-income families, or whether it will primarily benefit politically connected individuals and land speculators who occupied government land before the 2014 cut-off. It’s important to remember that not all “long-standing” homes were built out of desperation or due to lack of alternatives — some were constructed knowingly on government land with the hope of future regularisation.
This is not to dismiss the real struggles of many Goan families — especially in rural and semi-urban areas — who built modest homes decades ago, with no formal title but often with community knowledge and informal acceptance. For them, this law offers dignity and security. However, if implementation does not actively prioritise such families, and instead becomes a tool for selectively regularising larger, more profitable parcels, the very spirit of the legislation will be undermined.
The Risk of Future Abuse
Another concern is the precedent this Bill sets. By legalising past encroachments — however well-intentioned — the state risks encouraging future unauthorised construction in the hope of eventual regularisation. While the February 2014 cut-off date provides a limit, the long history of land disputes in Goa shows how quickly such deadlines can be challenged or shifted politically. The government must send a clear message: this is a one-time opportunity, not a recurring amnesty.
What’s Missing: Data, Transparency, and Dialogue
What’s notably absent is any public database of eligible properties or clear guidelines for application, pricing, and verification. The entire process must be digitised, transparent, and subject to audit. Public confidence in this law will depend on the fairness and accessibility of its execution.
The government must also initiate public awareness campaigns, particularly in rural and low-income communities, to inform residents of their rights and the process involved. Without proactive outreach, the very people this law is meant to protect may be left behind — again.
Conclusion: A Step in the Right Direction, If Followed Through
The Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is a significant move towards legalising and protecting long-standing homes — a goal that many successive governments have failed to achieve. But passing a law is only the beginning. What matters now is how equitably, transparently, and honestly it is implemented.
If done right, the Bill could restore dignity to thousands of Goan families. If mishandled, it risks becoming yet another tool for land speculation and political patronage. The choice — and responsibility — lies squarely with the government.
