The Supreme Court of India has reinforced the legal protection of agricultural land in Goa by ruling that land leased under the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964, must be used exclusively for farming and not for any non-agricultural purposes. This verdict addresses longstanding concerns about the misuse and conversion of tenanted agricultural lands for real estate or commercial projects, a problem that has threatened to erode Goa’s rural character and impact the livelihoods of tenant farmers.
The court’s decision clarifies that land given on tenancy for cultivation cannot be diverted for any other use. Advocate General Devidas Pangam welcomed the judgment, noting that several legal precedents have affirmed this principle and that the issue is now definitively settled. Pangam emphasized, “There are several judgments which say that tenanted land cannot be used as agricultural land,” reiterating the consistent position taken by courts regarding the sanctity of agriculture on such plots.
The Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act, introduced in 1964, was enacted to protect the rights of tenant farmers and prevent arbitrary evictions or misuse of their lands. Over the decades, however, there have been increasing attempts to change the use of these lands, often spurred by the rising value of real estate in Goa. This judgment sends a strong message that the original intent of the Act—to preserve land for agriculture and safeguard tenant farmers—remains paramount.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to curb illegal land conversions and serve as a precedent to protect agricultural land across the state, ensuring that Goa’s farming community retains security and resources critical to their way of life.