PANAJI
Almost a year after passing the controversial Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, 2021 in the State Assembly, the Goa cabinet has approved the withdrawal of the Bill. The motion to withdraw the Bill will be tabled in the current session.
The Bill that was hurriedly passed by the House in July 2021 was never notified following public outcry. The government had initially decided not to withdraw the Bill but allowed it to lapse.
The Bhumiputra Bill had proposed to consider anyone who has lived in Goa for at least 30 years as a Bhumiputra (son of the soil) and allowed them to seek ownership rights to the small housing units in which they live.
According to the proposed law, any person who is a resident of Goa for more than 30 years qualifies as a ‘bhumiputra’ and can apply for ownership of the house (up to a plinth area of 250 square metres) they have been living in even if the land on which it stands is owned by the government, a private person or commonly owned.
Any structure built before April 1, 2019 qualified for ownership under this law. The government had said that the applicants would have to produce water and electricity bills in their name as proof.
However, following a severe backlash from cross sections, the Chief Minister had announced that the government will reintroduce the Bill after incorporating public suggestions.
