PANAJI
In a moral win of sorts for the seven-member Opposition, the Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday witnessed the government withdrawing the Goa Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after sustained objections over proposed relaxations in norms governing private universities.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who had moved the Bill, withdrew it following a brief consultation with senior bureaucrats seated in the officers' gallery.
The withdrawal came after Opposition legislators mounted a strong attack on several provisions that sought to dilute criteria related to land holdings, infrastructure and expenditure on libraries for private universities seeking to establish operations in Goa.
Members questioned the rationale behind lowering institutional requirements and warned that the changes could compromise academic standards.
Several legislators also pointed to inconsistencies and drafting errors in the Bill, alleging that the text did not reflect the intent outlined by the Chief Minister while introducing the amendments.
Opposition MLAs argued that easing norms on land and financial commitments would weaken the regulatory framework and create opportunities for institutions lacking adequate academic credentials to enter the sector. Legislators further cautioned that such relaxations could open the floodgates to private universities of questionable credentials, thus potentially damaging Goa's reputation as a destination for higher education. The spirited intervention by the Opposition who demanded that the legislation be referred to a select committee prompted Sawant to eventually announce that the Bill will be withdrawn. He then proposed the motion seeking permission of the House to withdraw the bill which was carried by a voice-vote. The government backing down on the legislation to amend the private universities law, meanwhile, was in sharp contrast to its stance to bull-doze on the back of its massive majority the legislation to amend the Registration Act.
Despite strong protests from Opposition MLAs, the House passed the Registration (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2026, by a comfortable 26 votes to seven.
The Bill provides for online registration of documents, digital photographs and fingerprints, besides a mechanism for cancellation of fraudulently registered documents, including property sale deeds and restoration of property to the original owner.
Opposition legislators raised several questions including absence of an opportunity for appeal against decisions of Registrars but the government seemed in no mood to concede any of the Opposition demands. An amendment moved by Aldona MLA, Carlos Alvares-Ferreira, was also defeated by an identical 26-7 margin.
