LexThe Goa Municipalities Act, 1968
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Goa Municipalities Act, 1968
1. The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipality Act, 1968 (Act No.7 of 1969) [2 -4-1969] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 7 (Supplement) dated 16-5-1969 and came into force at once.
2. The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipality (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Act No. 14 of 1974)
[27-12-1974] published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 41 dated 9-1-1975 and came into
force at once.
3. The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipality (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Act No.13 of 1976)
[9-6-1976] published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 12 dated 17-6-1976 and came into force
at once.
4. The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipality (Amendment) Act, 1978 (Act No. 12 of 1978)
[3-6-1978] published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 11 dated 15-6-1978 and came into force
at once.
5. The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipality (Amendment) Act, 1978 (Act No.17 of 1978)
[19-10-1978] published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 30 dated 26 -10-1978 and came into
force at once.
6. The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipality (Amendment) Act, 1980 (Act No. 9 of 1980)
[24-5-1980] published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 10 dated 5-6-1980 and came into force
at once.
7. The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipality (Amendment) Act, 1980 (Act No.14 of 1980)
published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 39 dated 1980 and came into force at once.
8. The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipality (Amendment) Act, 1987 (Act No. 6 of 1987)
[4-11-1987] published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 36 dated 4 -12-1987 and came into
force at once.
9. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 1993 (Act No. 13 of 1994) [30 -5-1994] published
in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 8 dated 31-5-1994 and came into force at once.
10. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 1996 (Act No. 15 of 1996) [22 -11-1996] published
in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 39 dated 26-12-1996 and came into force at once.
11. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 1997 (Act No. 18 of 1997) [5 -5-1997] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 8 dated 22-5-1997 and came into force at once.
12. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 1997 (Act No. 7 of 1998) [22 -7-1998] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 45 dated 5 -2-1998 and came into force on such date as the
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
13. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 1998 (Act No. 17 of 1998) [23 -4-1998] published
in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 6 dated 7-5-1998 and came into force at once.
14. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 1999 (Act No. 7 of 1999) [20 -9-1999] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 26 dated 27-9-1999 and came into force at once.
15. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2001 (Act No. 1 of 2001) [23 -1-2001] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 42 dated 24 -1-2001 and section 2 and 4 shall come into force
from 6-12-2000 and section 3 came into force at once.
16. The Goa Mun icipalities (Amendment) Act, 2001 (Act No. 28 of 2001) [24 -4-2001] published
in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 4 dated 27-4-2001 and came into force at once.
17. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act No. 27 of 2002) [8 -10-2002] published
in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 28 dated 14-10-2002 and came into force at once.
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18. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2006 (Act No. 14 of 2006) [4 -8-2006] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 18 dated 7 -8-2006 and section 2 shall be deemed to come into
force on 28-4-2006 and Section 3 came into force at once.
19. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2007 (Act No. 7 of 2007) [20 -4-2007] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 3 dated 25-4-2007 and came into force at once.
20. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2008 (Act No. 14 of 2008) [12 -6-2008] published
in the Official Gazette, Series I No.12 dated 25-6-2008 and came into force on 14-12-2007.
21. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2010 (Act No. 8 of 2010) [26 -4-2010] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 5 dated 29-4-2010 and came into force at once.
22. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2015 (Act No. 20 of 2015) [19 -12-2015] published
in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 38(Extraordinary -2) dated 23 -12-2015 and came into force
w.e.f.9-6-2015.
23. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act No. 3 o f 2016) [16-2-2016] published in
the Official Gazette, Series I No. 47 (Extraordinary -3) dated 24 -2-2016 and amendment in
Section 9 deemed to came into force w.e.f. 10 -9-2015 and amendment in Section 42 deemed to
come into force w.e.f. 30-10-2015.
24. Amendment vide Section 173 of the Goa Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017; published in the
Official Gazette Series I No. 8 dated 26-5-2017
25. Amendment in the Schedule -I : Schedule –I Substituted vide Notification No. 11/21/2015 -
DMA/2096 dated 16-10-2018 published in the Official Gazette Series I No. 30 dated 25-10-2018
26. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Ordinance No. 13 of 2020)
published in the Official G azette, Series I No. 38(Extraordinary -3) dated 22 -12-2020 and came
into force at once. Latter by the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Withdrawal Ordinance
2021(Ordinance No. 1 of 2021) published in the Official Gazette Series -I No. 43 (Extraordinary -
2) dated 22-1-2021 same has withdrawn.
27. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Goa Act 1 of 2021), published in the Official
Gazette Series-I No. 45 (Extraordinary) dated 4-2-2021 and come into force at once.
28. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Go a Act 14 of 2022), published in the
Official Gazette Series-I No. 24 (Extraordinary) dated 15-9-2022 and come into force at once.
29. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act 2023 (Act No.10 of 2023) [21 -02-2023], published
in the Official Gazette Series -I No. 4 7 (Extraordinary-2) dated 27 -2-2023 and deemed to came
into force w.e.f. 6-10-2022.
30. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2023. (Goa Act No. 21 of 2023) [17 -05-2023],
published in the official Gazette Series I No.71 (Extraordinary) dated 23 -05-2023 and c ome into
force at once.
31. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2025. (Goa Act No. 27 of 2025) [22 -09-2025],
published in the official Gazette Series I No.27 (Extraordinary-2 ) dated 8-10-2025 and come into
force at once.
32. The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (Ordinance No.3 of 2025), published
in the Official Gazette Series -I No.33 (Extraordinary-4) dated 14-11-2025 and came into force at
once.
33. The Goa Jan Vishwas (Laws Amendment) Act, 2026 (Goa Act 2 of 2026) published in the Official
Gazette Series-I No. 45 (Extraordinary-3) dated 9-2-2026 and came into force w.e.f. 2nd December 2025.
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GOVERNMENT OF GOA, DAMAN AND DIU
Law and Judicial Department
Notification
LD/2/37-68/69-N-6
The Goa, Daman and Diu Municipalities Act, 1968 (Act No. 16 of 1968) which has
been assented to by the President of India on 2nd April, 1969, is hereby published for
general information of the public.
V. R. Vaze, Under Secretary (Law).
Panaji, 25th April, 1969, 5th Vaisakha, 1891.
Goa 1[ ] Municipalities Act, 1968
(Act No. 2 [7 of 1969])
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to municipalities in the 3[State of
Goa].
Whereas it is expedient to provide a municipal pattern in consonance with the one in
force in the rest of the country for the constitution, administration and powers of
municipalities in the 4[State of Goa] 5[ ] and to make better provision therefore;
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu in the Nineteenth
Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
CHAPTER I
Preliminary
1. Short title, extent and commencement. — (1) This Act may be called the Goa 6[ ]
Municipalities Act, 1968.
(2) It extends to the whole of the 7[State of Goa.]
(3) This section shall come into force at once; and the remaining provisions of this Act
shall come into force in such area and on such date as the Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint; and different dates may be appointed for
different provisions thereof and for different areas.
2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
1 The words “, Daman and Diu” omitted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
2 In place of Act number 16 of 1968 corrected vide Corrigendum No. LD/2/27/N -22-69 dated 2-7-1969 published in the
Government Gazette Series-I No. 15 dated 10-7-1969
3 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
4 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
5 The words “, Daman and Diu” omitted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
6 The words “, Daman and Diu” omitted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
7 Substituted by Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
5
(1) “Administrative Tribunal” means the Administrative Tribunal constituted under
the Goa, 8[ ] Administrative Tribunal Act, 1965;
9[(1A) “Appellate Tribunal” means as Appellate Tribunal constituted under section
184 B.]
(2) “appointed day,” in relation to an area, means the date on which the relevant
provisions of this Act come into force in that area;
(3) “building” includes a house, out -house, stable, shed, hut and other enclosure or
structure, whether of masonry, bricks, wood, mud, metal or any other material
whatever, whether used as a human dwelling or otherwise, and also includes
verandahs, fixed platforms, plinths, door steps, walls, (i ncluding coumpound walls)
and fencing and the like;
(4) “bye-law” means a bye -law made or deemed to be made by the Council under
this Act;
(5) “Cess-pool” includes a tank for the reception or disposal of foul matter from
buildings;
10[(5a) “Chairperson” and “Vice -Chairperson” means Chairperson and Vice -
Chairperson of the Council as the case may be;]
(6) “Chief Officer” means the person appointed or deemed to be appointed under
this Act to be the Chief Officer of a municipal area;
(7) 11[“Collector” means the Collector of North Goa District and that of South Goa
District and also includes the Additional Collector of North Goa District and South
Goa District, respectively;]
(8) “Council” means a Municipal Council constituted or deemed to be co nstituted
under this Act for a municipal area;
(9) “Councillor” means a person who is duly elected 12[***] as a member of the
Council;
(10) “dairy” includes any farm, cattle -shed, cow -house, milk -store, milk -shop or
other place from which milk is supplied far sale, or in which milk is kept for purposes
of sale or manufactured into butter, ghee, cheese, curds, dried, sterilized or condensed
or toned milk, but does not include—
(A) a shop or other place in which milk is sold for consumption on the premises
only, or
8 Omited by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
9 Inserted by the Amendment Act 6 of 1987.
10 Inserted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
11 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994 and thereafter by the Amendment Act 15 of 1996.
12 Omitted by the Amendment Act 7 of 1998.
6
(B) a shop or other place from which milk is sold or supplied in hermetically closed
and unopened receptacles in the same original condition in which it was first received
in such shop or other place;
13[(10a) “Development Committee” means the Development Committee constituted
under section 322 B;]
(11) 14[“Director” means the person appointed by the Government to be the
Director of Urban Development];
15[(11a) ‘District’ means a district in the State of Goa;]
(12) “drain” includes a sewer, tunnel, pipe, ditch, gutter or channel and any cistern,
flush-tank, septic tank, or other device for carrying off or treating sewage, offensive
matter, polluted water, sullage, waste water, rain water or sub -soil water and any
culvert, ventilation shaft or p ipe or other appliance or fitting connected therewith, and
any ejectors, compressed air mains, sealed sewage mains and special machinery or
apparatus for raising, collecting, expelling or removing sewage or offensive matter
from any place;
(13) “eating house” means any premises to which the public or any section of the
public are admitted and where any kind of food is prepared or supplied for
consumption on the premises or elsewhere for the profit or gain of any person owning
or having an interest in or managing such premises;
(14) “election” means an election to a Council, and includes a bye-election;
(15) “factory” means a factory as defined in the Factories
Act, 1948;
(16) “filth” includes sewage, night-soil and all offensive matter;
LXIII of 1948.
(17) “food” includes every article used as food or drink for human consumption
other than drugs or water, and any article which ordinarily enters into or is used in the
composition or preparation of human food, and also includes confectionary, flavouring
and coloring matters and spices and condiments;
(18) “goods” includes animals;
(19) “Government” means the Government of Goa 16[ ];
17[(19a) “holder” means a person who is in possession of the building/land;]
13 Inserted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
14 Substituted by the Amendment Act 15 of 1996.
15 Inserted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
16 Omitted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
17 Inserted vide Amendment Act 14 of 2022
7
(20) “house-drain” means any drain of, and used for the drainage of, one or more
buildings or premises and made merely for the purpose of communicating therefrom
with a municipal drain;
(21) “house-gully” or “service passage,” means a passage or strip of land
constructed, set apart or utilized for the purpose of serving as a drain or of affording
access to a privy, urinal, cesspool or other receptacle for filthy or polluted matter, to
servants of the Council or to persons employed in the cleansing thereof or in the
removal of such matter there from;
(22) “land” includes land which is being built upon or is built upon or covered with
water, benefits to arise out of land, things attached to the earth or permanently fastened
to anything attached to the earth and rights created by legislative enactment over any
street;
(23) “local authority” means a municipality or village panchayat, as the case may
be, constituted under any law for the time being in force in the 18[State of Goa];
(24) “lodging house” means a building or part of a building where lodging with or
without board or other service is provided for a monetary consideration, and includes a
lodging house for pilgrims whether lodging is provided for or withou t any monetary
consideration;
(25) “market” includes any place where persons assemble for the sale of, or for the
purpose of exposing for sale, live -stock or food for live -stock or meat, fish, fruit,
vegetables, drinks, animals intended for human food or any ot her articles of human
food whatsoever with or without the consent of the owner of such place,
notwithstanding that there may be no common regulation of the concourse of buyers
and sellers and whether or not any control is exercised over the business of or the
persons frequenting the market by the owner of the place or any other person;
19[(25 a) “member of family of lessee” means lessee’s spouse, or son, or unmarried
daughter, or father, or mother, or grandson, or unmarried granddaughter;]
(26) “milk” includes cream, skimmed milk, separated milk and condensed,
sterilized, desiccated or toned milk;
(27) “municipal area” means any local area declared or deemed to be declared as
municipal area by or under this Act;
(28) “municipal market” or “municipal slaughter-house” means a market or a
slaughter-house, as the case may be, which belongs to or is maintained by the Council;
18 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
19 Inserted vide Amendment Act 14 of 2022
8
(29) “nuisance” includes any act, omission, place or thing which causes or is likely
to cause injury, danger, annoyance or offence to the sense of sight, smell or hearing or
which is or may be dangerous to life or injurious to health or property;
(30) “occupier” includes—
(a) any person who for the time being is paying or is liable to pay to the owner the
rent or any portion of the rent of the land or building in respect of which such rent is
paid or is payable,
(b) an owner living in or otherwise using his land or building,
(c) a rent-free tenant,
(d) a licensee in occupation of any land, or building, and
(e) any person who is liable to pay to the owner damages for the use and
occupation of any land or building;
(31) “octroi” means a tax on the entry of goods into a municipal area for
consumption, use or sale therein;
(32) “offensive matter” includes animal carcasses, dung, dirt and putrid or
putrifying substances other than sewage;
(33) “officer or servant of the Council” means an officer or servant 20[appointed by
the Government or the Council] or any other competent authority subordinate to it, and
includes any Government Officer or servant, who is for the time being serving under
the, Council 21[and the classification of posts of officers or servants of Council as
Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D posts will have the meaning as assigned by
the Government for equivalent posts in Government Departments];
(34) “official year” or “financial year” means the year commencing on the first day
of April;
(35) “owner” means,—
(a) when used with reference to any premises, the person who receives the rent of
the said premises, or who would be entitled to receive the rent thereof if the premises
were let, and includes —
(i) an agent or trustee who receives such rent on account of the owner;
(ii) an agent or trustee who receives the rent of, or is entrusted with or concerned
for, any premises devoted to religious for charitable purposes;
20 Substituted by the Amendment Act 17 of 1978.
21 Added by the Amendment Act 18 of 1997.
9
(iii) a receiver, sequestrator or manager appointed by any Court of competent
jurisdiction to have the charge of, or to exercise the rights of an owner of, the said
premises; and
(iv) a mortgagee-in-possession; and
(b) when used with reference to any animal, vehicle or boat, includes the person for
the time being in charge of the animal, vehicle or boat;
22[(36) “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding
Census of which the relevant figures have been published, but where figures of Census
are not available, the population shall be ascertained from other relevant authenticated
records maintained by the Government.]
(37) “premises” includes messages, buildings and lands of any tenure, whether
open or enclosed, whether built on or not and whether public or private;
(38) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules;
23 (39) [***]
(40) “private market” mean s a market which is not a municipal market, but does
not include a market established for the purposes of any law for the time being in force
regulating the marketing of agricultural and other produce in such markets;
(41) “private slaughter-house” means a slaughter -house which is not a municipal
slaughter-house;
(42) “private street” means a street which is not a public street;
(43) “privy” means a place set apart for defecating or urinating or both, together
with the structure comprising such place, the receptacle therein for human excreta and
the fittings and apparatus, if any, connected therewith, and includes a closet of the dry
type, and aqua privy, a latrine and a urinal;
(44) “public place” includes any public park or garden or any ground to which the
public have or are permitted to have access;
(45) “public securities” means—
(a) securities of the Central Government and of any State Government;
(b) securities, stocks, debentures or shares the interest whereon has been
guaranteed by the Central or State Government;
(c) debentures or other securities for money issued by or on behalf of any local
authority in exercise of powers conferred by any enactment for the time being in force
in any part of the territory of India; or
22 Substituted by the Amendment Act 14 of 2008.
23 Omitted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
10
(d) securities expressly authorized by an order which the Government makes in this
behalf;
(46) “public street” means any street—
(a) over which the public have a right of way;
(b) heretofore levelled, paved, metalled, channeled, sewered, or repaired out of
municipal or other public funds; or
(c) which under the provisions of this Act becomes, or is declared, a public street;
(47) “rubbis” includes dust, ashes, broken bricks, mortar, broken glass, garden or
stable refuse and refuse of any kind which is not offensive matter or sewage;
(48) “Rules” means rules made by the Government under this Act;
(49) “Scheduled Castes” means such castes, rac es or tribes or parts of, or groups
within, such castes, races or tribes as are deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to
the 24[State of Goa] under article 341 of the Constitution of India;
(50) “Scheduled Tribes” means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of, or
groups within, such tribes or tribal communities, as are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes
in relation to the 25[State of Goa] under article 342 of the Constitution of India;
(51) sewage” means night-soil and other contents of water closets, latrines, privies,
urinals, cesspools or drains and polluted water from sinks, bathrooms, stables, cattle -
sheds and other like places, and includes trade effluent and discharges from
manufactories of all kinds;
26[(51a) “State” means the State of Goa]
27[(51b) ‘State Election Commission’ means the State Election Commission
constituted under the section 237 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 ( Goa Act 14
of 1994 ).]
(52) “street” means any road, foot -way, square, court -alley, or passage, accessible
whether permanently or temporarily to the public, whether a thoroughfare or not; and
shall include every vacant space, notwithstanding that it may be private property and
partly or wholly obstructed by any gate, post, chain or other barrier, if houses, shops or
other buildings abut thereon and if it is used by any persons as a means of access to or
from any public place or thoroughfare, whether such persons be occupiers of such
buildings or not, but shall not include any part of such space which the occupier of
any such building has a right at all hours to prevent all other persons from using as
aforesaid;
24 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
25 Substituted by the Amendment Act, 13 of 1994.
26 Inserted by the Amendment Act, 13 of 1994.
27 Inserted by the Amendment Act, 7 of 1998 and further substituted by the Amendment Act 27 of 2002.
11
(53) 28[“total number of Councillors”, in relation to a Council, means the total
number of elected councillors;]
(54) 29[***]
(55) “vehicle” includes a carriage, cart, van, dray, truck, hand -cart, bicycle,
tricycle, motor -car, and every wheeled conveyance which is used or is capable of
being used on a street;
30[(55a) “Voters” means all the voters whose names are entered in the list of voters
prepared and maintained under section 11.]
31[(55b) “Ward” mean the territorial constituency of the municipal area;]
(56) “water closet” means a closet which has a separate fixed receptacle connected
to a drainage system and separate provision for flushing from a supply of clean water
either by the operation of mechanism or by automatic action;
(57) “water-connection” includes—
(a) any tank, cistern, hydrant, stand-pipe, meter or tap situated on a private property
and connected with a water-main or pipe belonging to the Council; and
(b) the water-pipe connecting such tank, cistern, hydrant, stand -pipe, meter or tap
with such water-main or pipe;
(58) “water work” includes a lake, stream, spring, well, pump, reservoir, cistern,
tank, duct, whether covered or open, sluice, main -pipe, culvert, engine, water truck,
hydrant, stand-pipe, conduit, and machinery, land, building or thing for supplying or
used for supplying water or for protecting sources of water supply.
CHAPTER II
Municipal Councils
(1) Municipal areas and their classification.
3. Areas to be declared as municipal areas. — (1) After making such enquiries as it
deems fit, the Government may, by notifi cation in the Official Gazette, declare any local
area to be a municipal area.
(2) Every notification issued under sub -section (1) shall define the limits of the
municipal area to which it relates and such area shall be called “the municipal area”.
(3) Before the publication of a notification under sub -section (1), the Government
shall cause to be published in the Official Gazette and also in at least one newspaper
circulating in the area to be specified in the notification, a proclamation announcing the
28 Substituted by the Amendment Act, 27 of 2002.
29 Omitted by the Amendment Act, 13 of 1994.
30 Inserted vide Amendment Act 1 of 2021
31 Inserted as clause (55a) by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994 and re-numbered vide Amendment Act 1 of 2021.
12
intention of the Government to issue such notification, and inviting all persons who
entertain any objection to the said proposal to submit the same in writing with the reasons
therefor to the 32[Director] within two months from the dat e of the publication of the
proclamation in the Official Gazette.
(4) The 33[Director] shall, with all reasonable despatch, forward any objection so
submitted to the Government.
(5) No such notification as aforesaid shall be issued by the Government unless the
objections, if any, so submitted are in its opinion insufficient or invalid.
4. Classification of municipal areas. — (1) Every municipal area shall be classified
by the Government as ‘A’ Class, ‘B’ Class or ‘C’ Class, on the basis of the population
thereof, as specified below:—
A municipal area—
(a) with a population of more than 50,000 shall be a ‘A’ Class municipal area;
(b) with a population of more than 10,000 but not more than 50,000 shall be a ‘B’
Class municipal area; and
(c) with a population of 10,000 or less shall be a ‘C’ Class municipal area.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1), there shall come into
existence on and from the appointed day Municipal Councils as shown in column 3 of
Schedule I having jurisdiction over such municipal areas as may be declared by
notification in t he Official Gazette by the Government in this behalf in the manner
provided in section 3 and shall bear the classification shown against them in column 4 of
Schedule I.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, after
the ap pointed day, it shall be lawful for the various authorities concerned to take all
necessary steps to prepare the lists of voters and to hold general elections in the municipal
areas, but the Councillors elected thereat shall be eligible to enter office only after the day
on which section 327 is brought into force.
(4) Every area declared to be a municipal area after the appointed day shall likewise
be classified by the Government and for that purpose the Government shall, from time to
time, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend Schedule I.
(5) The Government shall review the classification made under this section after each
census or when the limits of any municipal area are altered by addition or exclusion of
any local area or when any area ceases to be a municipal area, and shall, where necessary,
by notification in the Official Gazette, amend Schedule I accordingly.
32 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
33 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
13
5. Effect of reclassification of a municipal area. — Whenever the classification of a
municipal area is changed under section 4, all the relevant provisions of this Act
applicable to the class of the municipal area into which the said area is re -classified shall,
with effect from the date of such re -classification, apply to the said re -classified
municipal area:
Provided that such re -classification shall not affect the constitution of the Council as
constituted immediately before such re -classification and every order issued under sub -
section (1) of section 10 by reason of such re -classification shall take effect for the
purposes of the next general election immediately following after the date of such order.
6. Alteration of the limits of a municipal area. —(1) The Government may by
notification in the Official Gazette
(a) alter the limits of a municipal area so as to include therein or to exclude
therefrom such local area as may be specified in the notification;
(b) amalgamate two or more municipal areas so as to form one municipal area;
(c) split up any municipal area into two or more municipal areas;
(d) declare that the whole of any local area comprising a municipal area shall cease
to be a municipal area:
Provided that no such notification shall be issued by the Government under any of the
clauses of this sub -section without consult ing the Municipal Council or Councils and
other local authorities concerned.
(2) Prior to the publication of' a notification under sub -section (1), the procedure
prescribed in sub -sections (3), (4) and (5) of section 3 shall mutatis mutandis be
followed.
34[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any of the provisions of this Act or any
other law, or Judgement, decree or order of the court, a Municipal area which is deemed
to be a Panchayat in terms of section 2 of the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act,
2001 (Goa Act 1 of 2001) shall be a Municipal area from the 28th day of April, 2006, and
all actions taken by or against such deemed Panchayat shall be deemed to have been
taken by or against the Municipal Council of such Municipal area.]
(2) Municipal Authorities and Establishment of Councils.
7. Municipal authorities charged with execution of the Act. — The municipal
authorities charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act for each municipal area
are—
(a) the Council;
34Sub section (3) and (4) inserted by the Amendment Act 1 of 2001, thereafter by the Amendment Act 14 of 2006 both
sections substituted by the new sub -section (3).
14
(b) the 35[Chairperson ];
(c) the Standing Committee;
(d) the Subjects Committees, if any; and
(e) the Chief Officer.
36[(f) the Municipal Engineer;]
8. Establishment and incorporation of Councils. — For every municipal area there
shall be a Municipal Council. Every such Council shall be a body corporate by the name
of “The ... Municipal Council” and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal,
and shall have power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, and to enter into contracts
and may by the said name sue, or be sued, through its Chief Officer.
9. Composition of Councils. — 37[(1) Save as otherwise provided by this Act, every
Council shall consist of Councillors elected at ward elections;
Provided that—
(1) in every Council, no less than (1/3) seats shall be reserved for women;
38[(2) in every Council, seat shall also be reserved for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled
Tribes and Other Backward Class and for woman belonging to Scheculed Caste, as the
case may be, the the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class as provided in sub -
section (2) ]
(2) The 39[State Election Commission in consultation with the Government] shall from
time to time by an order published in the Official Gazette fix for each municipal area—
(a) the number of elected Councillors in accordance with the following table:
Class of Municipal area Number of elected Councillors
(i) ‘A’ Class The minimum number of elected Councillors shall be 40[20], and
41{for every 42[2500] of the 43[voters in the municipal area] or part thereof} above
50,000 there shall be one additional elected Councillor, so, however, that the total
number of elected Councillors shall not exceed 44[27];
35 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
36 Inserted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
37 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994 thereafter substituted 7 of 1998.
38 Substituted by the Amendment Act 7 of 2007.
39 Substituted in place of word “Director” vide Amendment Act 21 of 2023
40 Substituted in place of figures “15” vide amendment Act 1 of 2021
41 Substituted by the Amendment Act 1 of 2001.
42 Substituted in place of figures “3000” vide amendment Act 1 of 2021
43 substituted in place of words”Population” vide Amendment Act 1 of 2021
44 Substituted vide Amendment Act 20 of 2015 and effective w.e.f. 9-6-2015.Thereafte vide Amendment Act 27 of 25, the
Noumber of Councilars increased from 25 to 27 witheffect from 8 -10-2025.
15
(ii) ‘B’ Class The minimum number of elected Councillor shall be 45[12], and 46{for
every 47[2500] of the 48[voters in the municipal area] or part thereof} 49[above 10,000]
there shall be one additional elected Councillor, so, however, that the total number of
elected Councillors shall not exceed 50 [20];
51 [(iii) the figure in (i) and (ii) shall be odd, if possible]
52 [(iv)] ‘C’ Class The number of elected Councillors shall be 10.
53[(b) the number of seats, if any, to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes or
Scheduled Tribes so that such number shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same
proportion to the number of elected Councillors as the population of the S cheduled
Castes or of the Scheduled Tribes in the municipal area bears to the total population of
that area and not less than one –third of such seats shall be reserved for women and
such seats shall be allotted by rotation to different wards in the Council.].
54[(bb) the number of seats, if any, to be reserved for persons belonging to the
category of Other Backward Classes so that such number shall be twenty seven percent
of the number of seats to be filled in through election in the Council and such seats
shall be allotted by rotation to different wards in the Council.]
(c) the number of seats for the office of Chairperson in the Council 55[for Scheduled
Castes, the Sc heduled Tribes 56[***] and women so that such number will bear as
nearly as may be, the same proportion to the number of elected Councillors as the
population of the 57[scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes 58[***] in the municipal area
bears to the total pop ulation of that area and such seats shall be allotted by rotation to
different constituencies in a Council.]
(3) The reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made by an
order under sub -section (2) shall cease to have effect when the reser vation of seats for
those Castes and Tribes in the House of the People ceases to have effect under the
Constitution of India:
Provided that nothing in this sub -section shall render any person elected to any such
reserved seat ineligible to continue as a Councillor during the term of office for which he
45 Substituted in place of figures “10” vide amendment Act 1 of 2021
46 Substituted by the Amendment Act 1 of 2001.
47 Substituted in place of figures “3000” vide amendment Act 1 of 2021
48 substituted in place of words”Population” vide Amendment Act 1 of 2021
49 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994, thereafter by the Amendment Act 14 of 2006 figures subsitituted.
50 Substituted vide Amendment Act 20 of 2015 and effective w.e.f. 9-6-2015.
51 Inserted vide Amendment Act 20 of 2015 and effective w.e.f. 9-6-2015.
52 Re numberes vide Amendment Act 20 of 2015 and effective w.e.f. 9-6-2015.
53 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
54 Inserted vide Amendment Act 3 of 2016 and come into force w.e.f. 10-9-2015
55 Substituted by the Amendment Act 7 of 2007.
56 The words “or the Other Backward Class” omitted vide Amendment Act 3 of 2016.
57 Substituted by the Amendment Act 7 of 2007.
58 The words “or of the Other Backward Class” omitted vide Amendment Act 3 of 2016.
16
was duly elected by reason only of the fact that the reservation of seats has so ceased to
have effect.
(4) Every order under sub-section (2) shall take effect for the purposes of the next
general election of the Council immediately following after the date of the order.
(5) 59[***]
60[9A. 61[Right of Member of the Legislative Assembely to associate at the
meeting.—] (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Act, the Member of the
Legislative Assembly of Goa representing the Constituency which comprises wholly or
partly by municipal area, 62[***] shall have right to associate at the meeting of the
concerned Municipal Council and take part in the proceedings of the Council but shall
have no right to vote.
(2) For every meeting of a Council, a notice of meeting specifying the date, hour and
place at which such meeting is to be held and the business to be transacted thereat shall be
served upon the concerned Member of Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa 63[***].
10. Division of municipal area into wards and reservation of wards for
women,64[Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class]. — (1) The
65[State Election Commission in consultation with the Government] shall from time to
time by order published in the Official Gazette, fix for each municipal area the number
and the extent of the wards into which such area shall be divided. The 66[State Election
Commission in consultation with the Government]shall specify in the order the ward in
which a seat is reserved for women but in so doing he shall ensure that such a seat its
reserved from time to time by rotation in different wards of the municipal are a. He shall
by a like order specify the wards in which seats are reserved for 67[Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes or the Other Backward Class], 68[including the seats for offices of
Chairperson] having regard to the concentration of population of 69[those Castes, or
Tribes, or as the case may be, of those class], in any particular wards.
70[Provided that such order shall be issued at least seven days before the date of
notification of the general election].
(2) Each of the wards shall elect only one Councillor.
59 Subsection 5 omitted by the Amendment Act 7 of 1998.
60 Inserted by the Amendment Act 7 of 1998.
61 Inserted by the Amendment Act 27 of 2002.
62 Words “and any one Ex-Councillor as to be nominated by the Council with prior approval of the Government”omitted by
the Amendment Act 27 of 2002.
63 Omitted by the Amendment Act 27 of 2002.
64 Substituted by the Amendment Act 7 of 2007.
65 Substituted in place of word “Director” vide Amendment Act 14 of 2022
66 Substituted in place of word “Director” vide Amendment Act 14 of 2022
67 Substituted by the Amendment Act 7 of 2007.
68 Inserted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
69 Substituted by the Amendment Act 7 of 2007.
70 Inserted vide Amendment Act 1 of 2021
17
(3) Every order issued under sub -section (1) shall take effect for the purpose of the
next general election immediately following the date of such order.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent women or persons belonging to
the 71[Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Class] for whom seats are
reserved in any Council, from standing for election and being elected to any of the seats
which are not reserved.
72[10A. Election of Councils. — The superintendence, direction and control of the
preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Council shall be
vested in the State Election Commission constituted under 73{section 237 of the Goa
Panchayat Raj Act, 1994(Act 14 of 1994 )}.]
11. List of voters.— (1) The electoral roll of the 74[Legislative Assembly
of the State of Goa] prepared under the provisions of the Representation of
the People Act, 1950, and for the time being in force on such date as the
75[State Election Commission] may by general or special order notify in
this behalf (being a date not earlier than one month from such notification)
for such constituency of the Assembly or any part thereof as is included in
the municipal area, shall be divi ded 76[***] into different sections
corresponding to the different wards in the municipal area; and a printed
copy of each section of the roll so divided and authenticated by such officer
shall be the list of voters for each ward. The ward lists shall coll ectively be
deemed to be the municipal voters’ list.
XLIII of
1950.
(2) Such officer shall maintain the lists of voters prepared under sub -section (1) and
the lists so maintained shall be deemed to be the authentic lists for all elections under this
Act.
(3) At least 77[10 days] before the last date fixed for nomination of candidates for
every general election, such officer shall keep open for public inspection at the municipal
office and at such other places in the municipal area as the 78[State Election Commission]
may fix, copies of the list of voters of each ward maintained under sub-section (2).
12. Right to vote. — (1) Every person whose name is in the list of voters maintained
under the last preceding section shall be qualified to vote, and every person whose name
is not in such list shall not be qualified to vote, at the election of a Councillor for the ward
to which such list pertains.
71 Substituted by the Amendment Act 7 of 2007.
72 Inserted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
73 Substituted by the Amendment Act 27 of 2002.
74 Substituted in place of expression “Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly” vide Amendment Act 1 of 2021
75 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
76 The words “by such officer of the Council or the Government as may be designated by the Director in this. Behalf”
omitted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
77 Substituted in place of words “one month” vide amendment Act 1 of 2021.
78 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
18
(2) The list of voters maintained under the last preceding section shall be conclusive
evidence for the purpose of determining under this section whether a person is qualified
or is not qualified to vote, as the case may be, at any election.
13. Manner of voting.— (1) The voting at an election shall be by ballot, and no votes
shall be received by proxy.
(2) A voter shall be entitled to one vote, which he may give to any one candidate.
57-A[13-A. Use of electronic voting machine.— Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Act or the rules, the State Election Commission may put in use the electronic voting
machine in lieu of ballot paper at an election in such manner as may be specified by it].
14. Other restrictions on voting.— (1) No person shall be entitled to vote at a general
election in more than one ward, notwithstanding that his name may appear in the list of
voters for more than one ward, and if a person votes in more than one ward his votes in
all wards shall be void.
(2) No person shall be entitled to vote at any election in the same ward more than
once, notwithstanding that his name may appear in the list of voters for that ward more
than once, and if he does so vote all his votes in that ward shall be void.
15. Qualifications for candidates.— (1) Every person whose name is included in the
list of voters maintained under section 11 and who is not less than 79[twenty-one] years of
age and who is not disqualified for being elected a Councillor under this Act or any other
law for the time being in force shall be qualified, and every person whose name is not
included in the list or who is less than twenty -five year of age or who is so disqualified
for being a Councillor shall not be qualified, to be elected as a Councillor at any election.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub -section (1), the list of voters maintained under
section 11 shall be conclusive evidence for the purpose of determining under this section
whether a person is qualified or is not qualified to be el ected, as the case may be, at any
election.
16. Disqualifications for becoming a Councillor. — (1) No person shall be qualified
to become a Councillor 80[by election], who—
(a) 81[***]
(b) has been removed from office under section 44 and five years have not elapsed
from the date of such removal;
(c) has been disqualified under section 45 82[46] or under sub -sections (4), and (6)
of section 83[47] and five years have not elapsed from the date of such disqualification;
or
57-A Inserted by the Amendment Act 8 of 2010.
79 Substituted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
80 Subsitituted by the Amendment Act 7 of 1998.
81 Omitted by the Amendment Act 13 of 1994.
19
(d) has been disqualified under sub-section (11) or (12) of section 22 and the period
for which he has been disqualified has not elapsed from the date of such
disqualification; or
(e) is an undischarged insolvent; or
(fExcerpt shown. Open the full act in Lexace.