Chapter I Chapter I

Preliminary

1. (1) This Act may be called the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.
2. (2) Section 245 shall be deemed to have come into force with effect from 20-4-94, while the remaining sections shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in Official Gazette specify and different dates may be specified for different provisions of the Act.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -

1[(1) “alteration” means a structural change, such a removal of part of a building or a change to the structure of the building such as construction of roof with R.C.C. material;];

2[1-A] (1) “Backward classes” means such classes of citizens as may be notified by the

Government from time to time as belonging to backward class;

3[1-B] [“(1-A) “Block Development Officer” means a person appointed as Block Development Officer by the Government;”]

4[1-C] [“(1-B) “Ballot” means ballot papers prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Act or rules made thereunder and includes “Electronic Voting Machine”;]

1. (2) “building” includes a house, outhouse, stable, privy, urinals, shed, hut, wall and any other structure whether of masonry, bricks, wood, metal or any other material, but does not include a temporary structure erected on ceremonial or festive occasion or a tent;
2. (3) “Sarpanch” means the Sarpanch of a Panchayat;
3. (4) “Deputy Sarpanch” means the Deputy Sarpanch of a Panchayat;
4. (5) “Adhyaksha” means the Adhyaksha of a Zilla Panchayat;
5. (6) “Upadhyaksha” means the Upadhyaksha of a Zilla Panchayat;
6. (7) “Collector” means the Collector of the district 5[and includes an Additional Collector;]
7. (8) “Chief Executive Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer of a Zilla Panchayat 6[and includes any other officer appointed by the Government in this behalf]; 7[(8-A) “Deputy Director” means the person appointed as the Deputy Director of Panchayat by the Government;] 8[(9) “Director” means the person appointed as the Director of Panchayats under this Act and includes an Additional Director;]
8. (10) “district” means a revenue district;
9. (11) “Government” means the Government of Goa; 9[(11-A) “Gram Sevak” means the person appointed by the Director to perform the duties as Gram Sevak;]
10. (12) “land” includes land which is built upon or covered with water; 10[(12-A) “Member-Secretary” means a person appointed by the Government as Member-Secretary and includes a Block Development Officer;]
11. (13) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
12. (14) “Panchayat” means a Village Panchayat established under section 3;
13. (15) “erection or re-erection or enlargement” of any building includes,-
    • (i) any material alteration or enlargement or in of any building;
    • (ii) the conversion, by structural alteration into a place of human habitation of any building not originally meant or constructed for human habitation;
    • (iii) the conversion of one or more places of human habitation into a greater number of such places;
    • (iv) the conversion of two or more places of human habitation into a lesser number of such places;
    • (v) such alteration of a building as would effect a change in the drainage or sanitary arrangements or materially affect its security;
    • (vi) the addition of any rooms, buildings, houses or other structures to any building;
    • (vii) the conversion, by any structural alteration into a place of religious worship or into a building not originally meant or constructed for such purposes;
    • (viii) roofing or covering an open space between wall or buildings, in respect of the structure which is formed by roofing or covering such space;
    • (ix) Conversion into a stall, shop, warehouse or godown or any building not originally constructed for use as such or vice versa;
    • (x) construction of a door in a wall adjoining any street or land not vested in the owner of the wall and opening in such street or land;
14. (16) “factory” means besides a factory as defined in the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 13 of 1948), any premises including the precincts thereof wherein any industrial manufacturing or trade process is carried on with the aid of steam, water, oil, gas, electrical or any other form of power which is mechanically transmitted and is not generated by human or animal agency; 11[(16A) “political party” means a political party as defined under clause (f) of sub- section (1) of section 2 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Central Act 43 of 1951);]
15. (17) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules framed under this Act;

12[17-A] “Registered Structural Engineer means a Structural Engineer as defined in clause (129) of regulation 2 of the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations,2010 Such Engineer shall be registered with the Town and Countru Planning Department under the said Regulations ;”

1. (18) “Schedule” means a Schedule appended to this Act;
2. (19) “Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes” means such Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes specified in respect of the State of Goa under the Constitution:
3. (20) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Panchayat: 13[(20A) “Taluka Panchayat” means a Taluka Panchayat established under this Act;] 14[(20-B) “Single dwelling unit” means independent housing unit with facility of living, cooking and sanitary requirements;.
4. (21) “Zilla Panchayat” means a Zilla Panchayat established under this Act.