NT Reporter
Panaji
Minister for Panchayats Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday introduced the Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Goa Legislative Assembly, seeking to amend the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Goa Panchayat Raj Act No. 14 of 1994).
The Bill seeks to insert Section 4-A to grant elected representatives of the Legislative Assembly and Zilla Panchayat the right to attend meetings of gram sabhas of village panchayats within their constituencies and to take part in deliberations, with the right to vote only if they are members of the gram sabha of the village panchayat concerned.
It further seeks to amend Section 47 of the Act to remove ambiguity arising from the use of the word “also”, which gives rise to an interpretation that, besides the Panchayat Secretary, another authority exists to exercise powers under Section 47. The amendment seeks to remove this ambiguity and provide a clear interpretation that the Panchayat Secretary is the sole authority to exercise powers in respect of the matters mentioned under
Section 47.
The Bill also seeks to amend Section 54 of the Act to enable village panchayats to hold four ordinary meetings in a month by reducing the time period for serving meeting notices.
Further, the Bill proposes an amendment to Section 66 of the Act to provide protection against demolition to buildings reflected in the record of rights and in the first promulgated survey plan prepared under the provisions of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (9 of 1969).
