The Goa legislative assembly passed The Goa Escheats, Forfeiture and Bona Vacantia Bill, 2024, providing to give the government powers to take over possession and ownership of land belonging to people who have left behind no heirs or abandoned lands where ownership is not clear. However opposition parties have expressed strong concerns, alleging that the bill could pave the way for land grabbing. They claimed that the law would facilitate grabbing of people’s properties officially and it would be a violation of human rights. However the Goa government claims that the new law is beneficial for Goans as it allows the state to take control of unused and unclaimed properties and use it for public development. There could be “abandoned” lands of people who have settled abroad on which future generations of the original owners could lay claim. There should be a provision for claimants to be compensated as per existing land price. Before claiming the land the government needs to conduct a thorough enquiry to ensure there are no heirs to the land. The suggestions of the opposition parties need to be incorporated in the Bill.
