Goa Bill Seeks Land Sale Freeze Until Mundkar Rights Settled

The Goa government has proposed a legislative move aimed at safeguarding the rights of mundkars by restricting land transactions until their legal status is resolved. The decision comes amid long-standing concerns that mundkars living on landlord-owned properties face uncertainty when such lands are sold without settlement of their rights. The proposed measure is expected to offer interim protection to thousands of affected residents across the state.

State Government Plans Protective Legislation

Chief Minister “Pramod Sawant” announced that the state will introduce a bill to prevent landlords from selling land until mundkars’ rights are formally settled. The bill is likely to be tabled during the winter session of the “Goa Legislative Assembly”, beginning January 12. The proposed law aims to stop the transfer of properties where mundkar claims are pending or yet to be officially recognised.

Relief for Undeclared Mundkars

The move is expected to bring relief to mundkars who reside in landlord-owned properties but have never filed cases to be legally declared as mundkars. According to the chief minister, numerous complaints have been received alleging that landlords sold properties along with mundkars’ houses, creating disputes with new owners. The government believes the bill will address this gap by temporarily freezing land sales until rights are clarified.

Long Pendency of Mundkarial Cases

Goa currently has over 2,000 mundkarial cases pending across various courts. Despite earlier efforts to expedite disposal, progress has remained limited. A deadline set for December 2022 saw little success. In 2023, the “Bombay High Court at Goa” directed all mamlatdars to dispose of mundkarial cases within six months of filing. The court also instructed district collectors to redistribute cases among revenue officers to reduce pendency and ensure regular workload assessments.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Mundkars are traditional occupants residing on landlord-owned land in Goa.
• Over 2,000 mundkarial cases are pending in Goa courts.
• The Bombay High Court at Goa mandated six-month disposal timelines for such cases.
• The proposed bill seeks to halt land sales until mundkar rights are settled.

Shift from Ordinance to Legislative Route

The state government initially considered promulgating an ordinance to protect mundkar rights. However, with the assembly session scheduled, it opted to introduce a bill instead. The chief minister reiterated the government’s intent to clear long-pending cases while ensuring that mundkars are not disadvantaged due to property transactions during the adjudication process.