NT Reporter | Mapusa
Aldona Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira on Wednesday criticised the state government’s decision to allow sale deeds to be registered at any sub-registrar office in Goa, calling it “contrary to central law” and warning that such deeds would be “null and void”.
“The statement of the Chief Minister that a new procedure will allow sale deed registrations anywhere in Goa — for instance, registering a Bardez sale deed in Canacona — is shocking. Probably he has not been briefed. This shows ignorance of the law,” Ferreira said.
He questioned whether the move was influenced by “some outside lobbyist,” alleging that the BJP government was “trying to finish off Goa as fast as possible” by bringing laws that could deprive Goans of their property rights.
Ferreira said that under central law, sale deed registration must occur in the sub-registrar’s office under whose jurisdiction the property is located. “If your property is in Mapusa, it has to be registered in Bardez. The Chief Minister’s announcement is contrary to law. Unless this Act is amended, any state government cannot make any law contrary to a central law. It will be
hit by Article 254 of the
Constitution of India. Therefore, any state law which is repugnant to a central law is void,” he said. Ferreira cited four Privy Council judgments holding that registrations outside jurisdiction are invalid. “This is nothing but a licence to loot Goans’ property,” he added.
If I’m buying property in Bardez, I’ll go to the Bardez Sub-Registrar to verify the sale. How can I go to Quepem or Canacona to check that? This is absolute nonsense — a complete violation of the law.