MAPUSA: Moira Comunidade has strongly objected to the draft amendment to give the Collector discretion in land conversion cases, if authorities fail to submit a report within 20 days.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary (Revenue), President of Moira Comunidade Rui Da Gama stated that there is no grant of land by Central nor State of Goa in Moira village, which is wholly owned by the Comunidade of Moira, Governed by Legislative Diploma 2070 of 15 April 1961 on item Ill and Map No 1 (Article 2) marked in yellow.
The Under Secretary Revenue vide circular No 17/2/PIL/99-RD dated 12-05-1999 addressed to the Collectors, has confirmed that the Comunidades are the owners of the land and the Government of Goa has no right to conduct any Amendments nor implement the Land Revenue (conversion of use of land and non agricultural assessment) Rules 1969, to convert any land in the village of Moira without the written permission of the Comunidade of Moira.
As the Code of Comunidade is a law in existence, the Land Revenue Code and other laws cannot supersede the Code of Comunidades. Government can exercise laws and powers only where there has been grant of land by the Central or State governments but the same cannot be made applicable to the village of Moira, which is wholly owned and possessed by the Comunidade of Moira.
