Special Correspondent Panaji
Admitting that the government has received multiple complaints of outsiders adopting Goan surnames, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that if required, the government will take necessary steps to further amend the Change of Name and Surname (Amendment) Act, 2022, so as to make it more stringent and prevent its misuse.
Sawant assured the House that all cases involving surname changes would be thoroughly reviewed, and anyone found misusing provisions of the Act will face punishment. He further pointed out that under the existing Act, fraudulent changes in surname can attract up to three years of imprisonment.
The Chief Minister also clarified that in cases pertaining to surname change, only Form B is altered, not the original birth certificate.
He said that certain specific grounds were laid down for applying for change of name or surname or both, namely wrong or improper entry of name or surname, correction of spelling in the name or surname or to make correct version of name or surname, unpleasant or distasteful name or surname and name or surname erroneously written.
“The verification power to ensure stricter scrutiny in such cases now rests with the Civil Judge Junior Division and not Civil Registrar, while the District Judge is the Appellate Authority,” the Chief Minister said, pointing out that certain conditions have been laid down under the Change of Name and Surname (Amendment) Act, 2022, whereby a person should be born in Goa and his birth should be registered in the state, and further either of his parents or grandparents should be born in Goa. “Only such person can apply for change of name,”
he said.
Earlier, Opposition MLAs namely Viresh Borkar, Altone D’Costa and Vijai Sardesai, by way of a Calling Attention Motion, expressed concern about the rising cases pertaining to change in surname by any person to traditional Goan surnames so as to claim benefits and erase the distinct Goan identity.
Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar said the change in surnames by outsiders eventually results in disputes in Goan families, thus creating domestic problems.
