A new law passed in Goa—the Escheats, Forfeiture and Bona Vacantia Act, 2024—has sparked widespread concern among Goans both in the state and abroad. The Act allows the government to take over properties of individuals who die without a will and without any legal heirs. This legal concept, known as escheat, exists in many parts of India, but the way it is being applied in Goa has led to fears of misuse.
Under the law, local revenue officers such as talathis and mamlatdars can begin inquiries into such properties. Deputy Collectors act as the authority to process the cases, while appeals can be made to Additional Collectors. Once a property is found to be “ownerless,” a one-year public notice is issued. If no legal claim is made, the property can be declared as belonging to the government. However, the state is required to wait for ten years before it can lease, use, or auction the property.
The biggest worry is that the law’s vague wording could be used to wrongfully take over ancestral properties, especially those belonging to Goans who have settled abroad. Many families have homes and land that have not been actively managed for years, which could be mistakenly identified as “abandoned” or “without heirs.” Critics argue that the process does not have enough safeguards to ensure due diligence, particularly in tracing distant family members or informing overseas heirs.
Another point of concern is the level of public notification. People fear that notices may not reach the rightful claimants, leading to irreversible loss of family property.
Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira strongly opposed the bill in the Assembly, calling it an official attempt at land grabbing. He warned that non-resident Goans could return one day to find their family homes taken by the state. His remarks led to heated exchanges in the House, with opposition members demanding greater transparency and stronger protections.
While the law has a legal foundation, public backlash reflects deep anxiety over how fairly and carefully it will be implemented.