The Goa Legislative Assembly (GLA), on February 05, 2026, enacted the Goa Jan Vishwas (Laws Amendment) Act, 2026 (Bill No. 2 of 2026) to decriminalise and rationalise minor offences under various State enactments, promote trust-based governance, and ensure time-bound delivery of notified public services for ease of living and doing business. The Act is deemed to have come into force on December 02, 2025, and repeals the Goa Jan Vishwas (Laws Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, while saving actions taken thereunder.
The Act amends multiple Goa legislations listed in Schedules I and II, including the Goa Excise Duty Act, 1964; Goa Waste Management Act, 2016; Goa Fire Force Act, 1986; Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968; Goa Municipalities Act, 1968; and the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, among others. A key reform is the substitution of criminal punishments such as imprisonment and fines with monetary penalties, enhanced penalty ceilings, and provisions for continuing penalties in case of ongoing contraventions.
Further, the Act provides for periodic revision of fines and penalties by increasing them by ten per cent of the minimum penalty amount after every three years from commencement. Comprehensive savings clauses ensure that prior actions, rights, liabilities, and proceedings remain unaffected. The amendments aim to streamline compliance, reduce litigation, and modernize enforcement mechanisms across municipal, revenue, excise, environmental, and civic laws in Goa.
[Bill No. 2 of 2026 / LA/LEGN/2026/3371]
