Govt proposes amendments to reduce Mundkar, Tenancy cases

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: With the aim of reducing the increasing cases of property disputes under the Mundkar and Tenancy Acts, the state government is considering to implement sunset clause along with introducing summary settlement provision, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Parrikar said that as per sunset clause, only those cases of mundkars and tenants would be considered which fall within the cut-off date. He said that no new applications would be entertained under the Mundkar Act and Tenancy Act after the cut-off date.  

Parrikar said that efforts would be made to bring in an amendment which will bring in the sunset clause in next assembly session. “These are just ideas, which can be considered,” he specified.

Chief Minister also did loud thinking on taking over all agriculture lands, which are kept fallow by tenants. “As per the Tenancy Act, if a tenant keeps an agriculture land unused for 36 months (or more), government has powers to take back the land,“ he claimed. “We might give it to someone who is interested in cultivation,” he stated.

Chief Minister was speaking while replying to the cut motion moved by the Opposition to the demands for grants for revenue, settlement and land records and collectorate. He was replying on behalf of Minister Francis D’Souza, who not present in the house since he is unwell.

Admitting to the high number of pendency cases under the acts, Parrikar said ‘a summary settlement provision can be worked out, wherein both parties can agree and settle the case’. “But this will be done in accordance with law,” he added. Parrikar said that there are several people, who due to pending cases, are ready to settle the issue.

He also admitted that there are thousands of pending mutation cases, which needs to be expedited. Parrikar announced that as far as government land acquisitions are concerned, the mutations would be done automatically. “Land acquisition order will be converted into mutation order,” he said.

In yet another proposal, government is considering an independent office for each talathi, Parrikar said adding that there are several government schools, which are closed, where talathis can be housed.

Speaking about the settlement and land records, Parrikar said that the ground survey of all 12 talukas is completed and by March 2014 the maps of all the talukas, villages and cities would be uploaded on website.