Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Goa Legislative Assembly has passed the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in a major step toward providing legal security to thousands of long-standing homeowners across the state. The legislation introduces Section 38A, allowing for the regularisation of dwelling houses built on government land prior to February 28, 2014.
The new provision empowers the Deputy Collector to grant Class I Occupancy rights upon application and payment of an occupancy fee. The regularisation process will apply strictly to the plinth area of the house, plus an additional two metres on each side, capped at a maximum of 400 square metres.
Under the legislation, any excess land beyond the permissible limit must be surrendered before regularisation is granted. Additionally, the law prohibits the sale or transfer of such regularised properties for a period of 20 years.
To ensure compliance, the law includes stringent provisions against false declarations, which will lead to revocation of occupancy rights and imposition of penalties.
The bill has been welcomed as a long-overdue corrective measure, providing legal clarity and relief to many Goan families living on government or granted lands for decades.
