Expired municipal property leases deemed terminated if not renewed

Panaji: Expired leases of municipal properties will be treated as unauthorised and terminated if not renewed within the stipulated period, the department of urban development said in a notification on Thursday.The department stated that the chief officer of the municipality can take possession of such premises after giving 15 days’ notice to the lessee. The notification states that renewal will be allowed only if dues are cleared and an application is submitted within two months from the date of publication.Moreover, municipal councils are required to process complete applications within 15 days, said the notification issued by Brijesh Manerkar, director of urban development. Lessees who seek a hearing against the termination must first deposit arrears of rent with interest, states the notification.The terms were issued under the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2022, which introduced changes to Section 88 of the parent act. The notification makes it mandatory for lessees to settle all dues before applying for renewal. Applications submitted within the two-month window from the notification’s publication will be considered for extension.If the lessee fails to apply or clear dues within the deadline, the lease will automatically stand terminated, and the premises will be treated as unauthorised. Municipal councils have been directed to act within a fortnight of receiving a valid application, ensuring timely processing of requests, said Manerkar.In case a lessee seeks a hearing against termination, they will first have to deposit the full arrears of rent along with interest.If they fail to do so, their licence will be revoked, and the chief officer will be empowered to take possession under Section 265A of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968.