PANAJI
Exactly a week ago, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced enforcing stricter penalties on landlords who fail to submit tenant details to the police. The proposed law, The Goa (Verification of Tenants) Bill 2024, was approved by the cabinet on Wednesday and will soon be tabled in the Assembly however finds no mention of any jail provision except for a hefty fine of Rs 10,000.
This legislative push was also insisted upon after an OCI citizen Arnold Soares was killed at his ancestral home in Candolim. While CM stated that several non-Goans reside in Goa, the bill only stipulates a fine of Rs 10,000 for non-compliance. It also emphasizes the importance of citizen safety and public order.
“Failure on the part of the owner to maintain and submit the information in the manner as required under the provisions of section 3, shall constitute an offense punishable with fine which may extend to Rs 10,000. Provided that an offense punishable under this section may be compounded by the sub divisional magistrate within whose jurisdiction the premises is situated, on payment to the credit of the government a sum not exceeding Rs 10,000,” reads an extract of the Bill explaining the punishment for non-maintenance and non-submission of tenant details.
The bill said that the government may give direction to any government department or agency, local authorities or persons to collect and verify the proof of identity of tenants; and to maintain the records.
“The police officer not below the rank of head constable or such other officer as may be specified by the government shall be entitled to inspect at any time, records required to be maintained under section 3,” it said.
The CM had informed the Assembly that the Bill introduced in 2021 was sent to the Select Committee after the Opposition’s demand. The 2021 Bill had proposed at least six months imprisonment stating, “no court other than the court of a judicial magistrate first class shall take cognizance of, and try an offense under this Act.”
