President nod denied, state withdraws bill to evict errant tenants

Panaji: After failing to get the Presidential assent, the Goa government on Wednesday decided to withdraw the Goa Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Bill, 2022.
The state cabinet granted approval to withdraw the bill and to introduce a fresh bill without provisions which override central laws.
The bill stated that any licensee who fails to vacate a building given to them by the landlord on the leave and licence basis, after the expiry of the agreement period, shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment of up to three months or with a fine not exceeding Rs 1 lakh, or both.
Section 53A of the bill said that the contract of the lease and the agreement of leave and licence had to be compulsorily registered. “The proposed Section 53A of the bill had an overriding effect on the other central acts. The bill was introduced in the Goa legislative assembly on July 22, 2022,” the cabinet said. “However, the Presidential assent is pending for the bill, on account of the overriding provisions over two central legislations. In spite of repeated follow-ups and clarifications given, the Presidential assent could not be obtained.” The cabinet said that in such circumstances, the government decided to withdraw the bill.
The office of the Advocate General had initiated a proposal to amend the Goa, Daman and Diu Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1968, based on the writ petition number 726/2017.
In response to the challenges faced by the proposal, the office of the Advocate General suggested the necessary amendments.
The provisions were meant to facilitate the immediate resumption of occupation of a building by the landlord on the expiry of the licence period. Some penal provisions were also required to deter licensees from illegally occupying or using the premises even after the expiry of the licence period.