PANAJI
The State government has designated two District & Sessions Courts in Panaji and Margao to handle all existing and future land grab cases till a fresh legislation is in place.
The government has designated these two special courts to exclusively hear land grab cases across the State, in line with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice V K Jadhav (Retd) and with the concurrence of the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
“In pursuance to the recommendations of Justice V K Jadhav (Retd), Chairman, Commission of Inquiry, State of Goa and with the concurrence of High Court of Bombay... dated February 24, 2025, the Government of Goa hereby designate the Court of District Judge 1 and Additional Sessions Judge, Panaji (District Level) for North Goa-Panaji and District Judge 1 and Additional Sessions Judge, Margao (District Level) for South Goa-Margao as special Courts, to deal with and decide land grabbing cases, both existing and future registrations, until new legislation is enacted,” reads the notification.
The Goa government had last December proposed to the High Court the designation of a Special Court to prosecute cases investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on land grab.
The Jadhav-recommendation had mentioned the Court would have sweeping powers to determine civil and criminal liabilities, bind judgments on all parties and restore land to rightful owners.
While the Commission insisted these cases be disposed of within six months, recommendations also included enacting a comprehensive law, tentatively titled “The Goa Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 2023,” which would criminalize land grabbing, nullify illegal transactions and provide a robust legal framework for the prevention and prosecution of such offenses.
