Goa enacts law to restrict foreigners from buying land

The Goa government enacted a new registration act making it utmost difficult for foreigners to buy lands in the state.

The Goa government on Friday enacted a new registration act making it utmost difficult for foreigners to buy lands in the state.

State Law Minister Dayanand Narvekar, presenting the new legislation in the House, said the government has taken a policy decision to “ban foreigners from buying properties in the state”.

Goa has recently witnessed unprecedented rush by foreigners to buy lands, reportedly, violating stringent Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

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The state government which has come heavily on such violations, on Friday amended 100-year-old Indian Registration Act enacting a new law for the state named Goa Registration Act.

The ongoing state legislative assembly passed the law with state government expressing its willingness to take back lands that are found to be illegally purchased by foreigners.

“We can even acquire these properties which were sold illegally to foreigners,” Law Minister Dayanand Narvekar told the state legislative assembly presenting the law.

He said that no registration authorities will be allowed to register the sale deeds of such lands sold to foreigners.

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“We will hold the sub registrar responsible for such an action,” the minister said.