PANAJI: The recently notified draft rules for the regularization of houses on government land specify that beneficiaries will not be permitted to sell or transfer the land, or any part of it, for a period of 20 years from the date of regularization.
The state government has indicated that any transfer after 20 years will still require government approval.
The draft Goa Land Revenue (Disposal Of Govt Land) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, further stipulates that applicants may incur a jail term of up to two years or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh if they submit false declarations or documents to secure government land.
“Objections and suggestions regarding the draft rules should be sent to the revenue secretary at the government secretariat in Porvorim within 15 days to be considered during the finalization of these rules,” noted under secretary of revenue, Vrushika Kauthankar.
The conditions for land grants stipulate that every land regularized must comply with the provisions of the Goa Land Revenue Code and applicable rules.
According to the draft rules, “The grantee may only use the land for residential purposes and cannot sell, assign, or otherwise transfer it or any part of it for 20 years from the date of the grant, except as a gift to a family member.”
Additionally, any breach of conditions by the grantee may result in eviction from the land, with the deputy collector reclaiming possession. “In such cases, the occupancy price paid by the grantee will be forfeited to the government,” the rules state.
