PANAJI: The state government will promulgate an ordinance amending the Goa, Daman and Diu Agriculture Tenancy Act, 1964, facilitating transfer of tenancy cases back to the office of the mamlatdar from the court of civil judge (senior division).
The government has already moved a file in this regard, and the ordinance is likely to be promulgated after it gets administrative and cabinet approvals, and before the model code of conduct comes into force in view of the forthcoming elections to 186 village panchayats of the state.
Sources said that a proposal on the ordinance would be sent for administrative approval by the revenue department.
The then government-led by Manohar Parrikar had amended the tenancy act in August 2014 transferring all cases from the mamlatdar’s office to the civil court. This had led to a hue and cry among tenants and farmers who had demanded that the old law be brought back.
The sources said the government has been contemplating bringing in time-limit within which a mamlatdar would have to conclude hearings in a tenancy case, or else the matter would be transferred to the civil court.
After the vehement opposition to the contentious amendment, the government had withdrawn two of the three clauses of the 2014 amendment, including the sunset clause that gave tenants three years from September 25, 2014, to file an application declaring their tenancy rights.
The sources said the government would ensure that the cases do not get stuck at the mamlatdar’s office as had been the case in the past, and that hearings on pending cases would be taken up on fast track basis.
Most of the BJP candidates who lost the 2017 assembly polls had blamed the 2014 amendment to the tenancy law.
Governor Mridula Sinha had stated during her address in the state legislative assembly on February 28 that the government was aware of certain difficulties faced by tenants due to the 2014 amendment.
The government was committed to protect the interest of tenants and would immediately amend the tenancy act suitably to ensure that all tenancy rights are legally protected, she had assured.
It is pertinent to note that the then Opposition MLAs like Vijay Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte, who are now ministers in Parrikar-led coalition government, had objected to the amendment.
Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude too had been part of the movement against the 2014 amendment.
