Digital Goa, July 15 – The Supreme Court on Monday, July 14 held that land leased under the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964, for farming purposes cannot be used for non-agricultural activities. The bench ruled that such land must be used strictly for agricultural purposes as mandated by law. The case pertained to land parcels in Tivim, Bardez, originally leased by the Communidade of Tivim to the ancestors of the respondents in 1978. The attempt to settle a tenancy dispute through a 60:40 land-sharing compromise between the Communidade and tenants was rejected by both the Administrative Tribunal and the High Court of Bombay at Goa — a stance upheld by the apex court.
The Court observed that the compromise would effectively convert tenancy rights into ownership and allow non-agricultural use, violating both the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964, and the Goa Land Use (Regulation) Act, 1991. It also stressed that any such agreement bypasses legal procedures meant to protect agricultural land and tenant rights. The tenancy appeal will now proceed before the appellate court on its own merits.
