from daijiworld's special correspondent

• Provision for affidavits as proof of domicile withdrawn
• Veracity of domicile to be verified by home ministry

Panaji. Jul 28: In the wake of increasing land purchase by foreign nationals in Goa, the state government has withdrawn the provision of submitting affidavit as domicile proof for registration of deeds by foreigners.

"State registrar has been asked to withdraw the circular allowing affidavits as a proof of domicile from the foreigners... Instead the domicile of foreigners in Goa would be checked by the Home Department prior to the registration of deeds," Law Minister Dayanand Narvekar said yesterday.

The minsiter, who was participating in a discussion in the State Legislative Assembly, citing a Reserve Bank of India circular, also clarified that foreigners cannot buy agricultural land or orchard land in the State/country.

Earlier, the provision allowed foreigners to submit a notarised affidavit stating that they are staying in the state for more than 180 days, a requirement for buying immovable property in Goa.

Recently, the state government in its reply on the floor of the House, had revealed that around 12.5 lakh square metres of land was purchased by foreigners in the state, which it said was a "cause of concern for the locals".
 

Digging the background:

• Panaji: CM Demands Union Govt to Curtail Period of Tourist Visas to Three Months
• Number of Foreigners Owning Property in State Alarming 
• Morjim: Villagers Plough Sold Land in Protest against Foreign Ownership