MARGAO: In a proactive measure to curb thefts, assaults, and other criminal activities, police stations across South Goa have ramped up tenant verification processes, resulting in the registration of 37,431 tenant forms in the first 11 months of 2023.
Numerous police stations in the district have reported a marked increase in the number of tenant verification forms being completed. Tenant verification involves a background check to ensure that tenants have no prior police charges or criminal records.
Margao-based advocate PrieshMadkaikar stressed on the importance of tenant verification, citing the Goa (Verification of Tenants) Bill, 2021, which proposes stricter penalties for those who fail to submit tenant details to the police. Violators could face fines, and the government of Goa has mandated that landlords, tenants, or property owners cannot rent out any accommodation without providing the tenant’s details to the local police.
Madkaikar added that landlords would be legally responsible for any illegal activity committed by the tenant on their premises, and the prospect of earning rentals through the property could be jeopardised if offered to a tenant with an unclear track record.
During the reported period this year, the highest number of tenant verification forms, 5,782, were filed by Colva police station, followed by 5,676 by Verna police and 4,456 by Ponda police station.
Margao police, covering several wards of the municipal council, registered 2,482 cases, while Maina- Curtorim police filed 2,277 forms. Cuncolim police recorded 3,482 cases, Quepem police filled 970 forms, Curchorem police filed 2,116, and Sanguem police station filled 1,028 forms. Canacona police registered 1,000 tenant verifications, Vasco filed 3,636 forms, Mormugao police station filed 1,002, Collem police station filed 489, and Mardol police station recorded 1,298 tenant verifications. Fatorda police booked 1,737 tenant verification forms.
Comparatively, in 2022, a total of 36,146 such forms were filled in the entire district of South Goa.
A senior police officer, who did not wish to be named, shared that police stations have created a database of migrant labourers residing in South Goa. Lodge and hotel managers have been instructed to retain photocopies of identification documents for guests even after they leave the premises. This measure aims to address the issue of criminals posing as labourers and renting private accommodations, especially in coastal areas.
