RTI for Goa Land Records — Form I & XIV, Mutation and Communidade

For any landowner, property buyer, farmer, or legal heir in Goa who needs official confirmation of land title, a certified copy of mutation entries, or documentary evidence of Communidade village community land rights, the Right to Information Act, 2005 provides a direct, affordable, and legally effective remedy. For ₹10 and a single application to the Public Information Officer of the relevant Mamlatdar's office or the Director of Settlement & Land Records, any citizen can obtain certified copies of Form I & XIV (the Record of Rights), Mutation Register entries, government acquisition notifications, Coastal Regulation Zone restrictions, and Communidade register extracts. In a state where land is shaped by a unique Portuguese colonial heritage, a distinctive Communidade village community system, and the ongoing work of digitisation via the goabhulekh.gov.in portal — RTI is the surest route to verified, certified, court-usable land documentation.

Goa's Unique Land Tenure History: What Every RTI Applicant Must Know

Goa's land administration is unlike that of any other Indian state. Before drafting an RTI application, it is essential to understand the distinctive legal and historical framework that has shaped Goa's land records.

The Portuguese Era and the 1961 Liberation

For nearly 450 years — from the early sixteenth century until December 1961 — Goa was a Portuguese colonial possession. During this period, Portugal established a comprehensive land survey and records system rooted in Portuguese civil law. Survey maps, Registos (property registers), Tombo (land registers), and village-level records were compiled and maintained by Portuguese colonial revenue administration. The Portuguese survey assigned unique Survey Numbers to each parcel of agricultural or communal land in each village (known as a Mahal), and these survey numbers — maintained to this day — form the backbone of Goa's modern land record system.

When Goa was liberated and merged with India in December 1961, the Government of India faced the task of integrating this distinctive colonial land administration into India's standard revenue framework. The Goa, Daman and Diu Land Revenue Code, 1968 (GDLRC) was enacted for this purpose. It retained the survey-based system and the Communidade framework inherited from Portugal while adapting it to Indian administrative norms. As a result, Goa's revenue records and land administration retain several features — including the Form I & XIV nomenclature, the survey number system, and the Communidade institution — that have no direct parallel elsewhere in India.

The Goa, Daman and Diu Land Revenue Code, 1968

The GDLRC is the principal legislation governing land revenue administration in Goa. It establishes the hierarchy of revenue officials — from the Mamlatdar at the taluka level, through the Deputy Collector and Collector at the district level, to the Revenue Secretary at the state level — and defines their powers over land surveys, Records of Rights, mutation proceedings, and revenue collections. Under the GDLRC:

• The Survey Number (and its sub-divisions) is the basic unit of land identification in every village
• The Record of Rights — maintained in the form of Form I & XIV (or, in urban/housing contexts, the Dharmasala or Property Card) — is the official document of title and occupancy
• The Mamlatdar at each taluka is the primary revenue officer for maintaining land records, processing mutations, and settling land disputes at the first level
• Mutation (locally known as Parivartan Nondh or Hakkache Parivartan) is the process of updating the Record of Rights to reflect a change in ownership or occupancy
• The Department of Settlement & Land Records (DSLR) in Panaji oversees land surveys, record maintenance, and digitisation at the state level

Form I & XIV: Goa's Record of Rights

Form I & XIV is the cornerstone document of land rights in Goa. Together, the two forms constitute the Record of Rights (RoR) for each survey number in each village:

• Form I records ownership and occupancy rights — the name of the recorded owner (Malik), the name of the occupant/cultivator (Khatedar) if different, the area of the parcel in hectares, the nature of the right (ownership, tenancy, lease, government land, etc.), and any encumbrances, mortgages, or restrictions noted against the survey number
• Form XIV records agricultural and cultivation details — the type of crop cultivated, the method of irrigation (if any), and the assessment (land revenue) payable for the parcel

A certified copy of Form I & XIV for a specific Survey Number, obtained from the Mamlatdar's office or through RTI, is the primary document used to:

• Establish and prove ownership of agricultural land in Goa
• Verify that a mutation has been correctly recorded after a sale, inheritance, or partition
• Confirm that a survey number is free of encumbrances, government acquisition notifications, or zone-based restrictions
• Support applications for bank loans, government schemes, and conversion of land use

Mutation: How Goa Land Title Transfers Are Recorded

When ownership of land in Goa changes — by sale (registered deed), inheritance, partition, court decree, government order, or any other legally recognised mode — the new owner must apply for mutation at the Mamlatdar's office. The mutation process updates the Record of Rights (Form I & XIV) to reflect the change. The Mamlatdar issues a public notice, invites objections, verifies the documents, and issues a mutation order (Mutation Sanad). This order is entered in the Mutation Register (Parivartan Nondh Register) maintained at the Mamlatdar's office.

Certified copies of Mutation Register entries obtained through RTI serve as independent documentary evidence of the title chain — they show every change of recorded ownership, the legal basis of each change, and the authority that sanctioned it.

The Communidade: Goa's Unique Village Community Land Institution

The most distinctive — and legally complex — feature of Goa's land system is the Comunidade (Communidade) institution. The Communidade is a traditional village community organisation with pre-Portuguese origins, which the Portuguese colonial administration formalised and gave legal recognition through the Goa, Daman and Diu Communidade Code, 1961 (Communidade Code). The Communidade continues to operate under this Code today.

Each Communidade is a legal entity comprising all the original Hindu families (Ghonkars) of a village. It holds collective title to certain village lands — typically fallow and waste lands, communal agricultural land, village commons, and land granted to the community through historical endowments. These Communidade lands (known as Communidade property) are distinct from privately owned survey numbers: they belong to the Communidade as a corporate body and cannot, in principle, be sold or transferred by individual members.

Key features of the Communidade system relevant to RTI land record requests include:

Communidade Register: Each Communidade maintains a detailed register of its lands, recording the survey numbers, areas, and descriptions of all Communidade-held parcels. This register, held by the Communidade Administrator (Escrivão) and overseen by the Director of Communidades under the Revenue Department, is the primary record of collective village title.

Director of Communidades: The Director of Communidades is a state government officer within the Revenue Department who supervises all Communidades in Goa, maintains state-level records, and hears disputes relating to Communidade lands. For RTI purposes, the Director of Communidades is a public authority under the RTI Act, and RTI applications for Communidade register entries, Communidade accounts, and government orders affecting Communidade lands should be addressed to the Director of Communidades, Revenue Department, Panaji.

Legal complexity of Communidade land: Over the decades since Goa's liberation, many Communidade lands have been the subject of government orders, court decrees, encroachments, or controversial transactions. In some cases, portions of Communidade land have been alienated, converted, or leased to individuals or corporations. RTI is a powerful tool to verify the current legal status of a Communidade's title over specific survey numbers and to obtain copies of any government orders or court judgments that have affected those rights.

Digitisation: the goabhulekh.gov.in Portal

The Government of Goa has made significant progress in digitising land records through the goabhulekh.gov.in portal (also referred to as e-Dhara or Goa Bhulekh). This portal allows citizens to view digitised Form I & XIV entries for most villages and survey numbers in Goa online. However, it is important to note:

• Digital records on goabhulekh.gov.in are for information purposes only — they are not certified copies and do not carry the legal evidentiary weight of certified copies issued by the Mamlatdar's office
• For certified copies — required for court filings, loan applications, inheritance proceedings, or title verification — you must either visit the Mamlatdar's office or use RTI to formally request certified copies
• The portal may not reflect the most recent mutations — there can be a lag between when a mutation is sanctioned and when the digital records are updated
• Communidade land records are generally not fully available on the portal; for these, the Director of Communidades' office or the Mamlatdar is the authoritative source

What RTI Can Obtain: The Complete List

An RTI application to the Mamlatdar's office or the DSLR can produce the following certified documents and official information:

1. Certified copy of Form I & XIV — the current Record of Rights for a specific Survey Number and Sub-division in any village in Goa, showing the recorded owner, occupant, area, land classification, and any encumbrances or restrictions
2. Mutation Register entries — the complete history of mutations recorded for a Survey Number, including transferor and transferee names, date of mutation order, legal basis (sale deed, inheritance, partition, court decree, government order), and name of the sanctioning officer
3. Pending mutation application status — the current stage of processing, reason for delay (if any), and name of the responsible officer, for mutation applications that are still pending at the Mamlatdar's office
4. Communidade register entries — from the Director of Communidades, the official record of the Communidade's title over specific survey numbers, lease details (if any), and the current legal status of Communidade land
5. Government acquisition notifications — any notification under the Land Acquisition Act or the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 affecting the survey number
6. Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) restrictions — whether the survey number falls within a CRZ zone (CRZ-I, II, or III) and what restrictions apply under the CRZ Notification, 2019
7. Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notifications — whether the survey number is within a declared Eco-Sensitive Zone around a wildlife sanctuary or national park in Goa
8. Special Planning Area (SPA) or Town and Country Planning (TCP) zone — land use classification under the TCP Act, which governs whether land can be converted from agricultural to non-agricultural use, and on what terms
9. Survey and cadastral records — original survey maps, field measurement books, and field inspection reports from the DSLR's cadastral survey office
10. Field verification reports — copies of field inspection reports prepared by Talathi or Mamlatdar staff in connection with a mutation application

Understanding Goa's 24 Talukas and the Revenue Hierarchy

Goa is divided into two districts — North Goa and South Goa — and 14 talukas in total (some sources reference the number differently as administrative boundaries have evolved, but the key talukas are listed below). Each taluka has a Mamlatdar's office, which is the primary revenue office for land records in that taluka.

North Goa District (Collector's Office, Panaji): Tiswadi, Bardez, Pernem, Bicholim, Sattari, Ponda

South Goa District (Collector's Office, Margao): Salcete, Mormugao, Quepem, Sanguem, Canacona, Dharbandora

The Mamlatdar is the key frontline revenue officer in Goa. The Mamlatdar's office at each taluka:

• Maintains Form I & XIV (Records of Rights) for all survey numbers in the taluka's villages
• Processes mutation applications and maintains the Mutation Register
• Issues certified copies of land records
• Maintains village-level Talathi (Revenue Inspector) staff who conduct field inspections

For RTI purposes, the Public Information Officer at the Mamlatdar's office of the relevant taluka is the correct first point of contact for most land record queries.

Above the Mamlatdar sits the Deputy Collector (Sub-Division level), and above that the Collector (District level). For queries about district-level land records, government acquisition notifications, or systemic issues spanning multiple talukas, the PIO at the Collector's office is the appropriate authority.

At the state level, the Director, Department of Settlement & Land Records (DSLR), Panaji oversees the overall land survey and records system. The DSLR is the authority for state-level cadastral survey records, field measurement books, and policy matters. RTI for survey maps, field measurement data, or DSLR-level documents should be addressed to the PIO at the DSLR, Panaji.

For Communidade lands, the Director of Communidades, Revenue Department, Government of Goa, Panaji maintains the Communidade registers and is the PIO for Communidade-specific records.

Where to File: Choosing the Right Public Information Officer

If you are unsure which office holds a specific record, file with the Mamlatdar of the relevant taluka — the Mamlatdar's office is the broadest-holding frontline authority for most land record queries, and can internally transfer your application to the correct office under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act if the specific record is held elsewhere.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1 — Identify the correct PIO. For most land record matters involving a specific survey number — Form I & XIV, mutation, pending mutation — file with the PIO of the Mamlatdar's office in the taluka where the land is situated. For Communidade land, file also (or instead) with the Director of Communidades. For acquisition or CRZ matters, consider the Collector's office.

Step 2 — Draft your RTI application. Begin with the precise land particulars: Survey No., Sub-division No. (if applicable), Village (Mahal), Taluka, and District (North Goa / South Goa). List each piece of information you need as a clearly numbered, specific request. Include any reference numbers you have — mutation case numbers, sale deed registration numbers, or previous application reference numbers. Use the sample RTI draft at the top of this guide as your template and adapt it to your specific situation.

Step 3 — Pay the ₹10 application fee. Pay online via the rtionline.gov.in portal, or attach a ₹10 Indian Postal Order (IPO) in favour of the Accounts Officer / Pay and Accounts Officer of the relevant Mamlatdar's office if filing by post. BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act — attach a self-attested copy of your BPL ration card. Do not send cash.

Step 4 — Choose your filing method.

• Online: Visit rtionline.gov.in, select "Government of Goa" as the state, navigate to the relevant public authority (Mamlatdar's office or DSLR), attach your application and pay online. Note your registration number and save the confirmation. Goa state government bodies are accessible through rtionline.gov.in.
• By post: Address a written application to the PIO of the relevant Mamlatdar's office, attach the ₹10 IPO, and send by Registered Post with Acknowledgement Due. Retain the postal receipt — the 30-day clock runs from the date the PIO's office receives your application.
• In person: You may also hand-deliver the application to the Mamlatdar's office and obtain a signed acknowledgement on your copy.

Step 5 — Monitor and follow up. The PIO must respond within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. If your application involves a matter of life or liberty, the response is due within 48 hours under the Section 7(1) proviso. If you receive no response, a partial response, or an unsatisfactory response, you must file a First Appeal within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Step 6 — First Appeal. File the First Appeal under Section 19(1) with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — for Mamlatdar-level RTIs, this is typically the Deputy Collector or Collector (Revenue) of North Goa or South Goa. Address the appeal to the FAA at the Collector's office of the relevant district. Attach copies of the original RTI, the confirmation of filing, and the PIO's response (or note that no response was received). No fee is payable.

Step 7 — Second Appeal. If the FAA also does not respond satisfactorily, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) with the Goa Information Commission (GIC) within 90 days of the FAA's order or the expiry of the FAA's deadline. The GIC — not the Central Information Commission (CIC) — is the correct appellate body for all Goa state government public authorities, including the Mamlatdar, Collector, DSLR, and Director of Communidades. No fee is payable for the Second Appeal.

RTI Act Sections That Govern Your Application

Every step of the RTI process is governed by specific provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Understanding these provisions strengthens your application and your appeals:

• Section 2(h): Defines "public authority" — the Mamlatdar's office, DSLR, Director of Communidades, and Collector's office are all public authorities under the Government of Goa and are fully subject to the RTI Act
• Section 6: The provision under which you file your RTI application — your application must be in writing (or electronic), state your name and contact details, and specify the information you require; no reason is required
• Section 7(1): Mandates that the PIO provide information within 30 days of receipt of your application; if information concerns the life or liberty of a person, the response is due within 48 hours under the Section 7(1) proviso
• Section 19(1): Governs the First Appeal — must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable; the FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with reasons)
• Section 19(3): Governs the Second Appeal — filed with the Goa Information Commission; not with the CIC (which handles only Central Government bodies)
• Section 20: Empowers the Goa Information Commission to impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to a maximum of ₹25,000) on a PIO who fails to comply with the RTI Act without reasonable cause, and to recommend departmental proceedings for persistent or malicious non-disclosure

Goa Land Records RTI: Practical Information Requests

For Form I & XIV (Record of Rights)

A well-drafted RTI for Form I & XIV should ask for:

1. A certified copy of Form I & XIV (Record of Rights) currently in force for Survey No. ___ / Sub-division No. ___, Village (Mahal) ___, Taluka ___, District North/South Goa — showing the name of the recorded owner (Malik), the name of the occupant/cultivator (Khatedar) if different, the area in hectares, the land classification (agriculture — wet/dry, orchard, fallow, homestead, or other), the nature of the right (ownership, tenancy, government land, Communidade land, or other), and all encumbrances, mortgages, court attachments, or restrictions noted in the record
2. Whether any government acquisition proceeding has been initiated or completed in respect of the above survey number, and if so, the details of the notification, purpose, and current status
3. Whether any CRZ, ESZ, or TCP zone restriction is noted against the above survey number in the revenue or departmental records, and if so, the specific category and the applicable restriction

For Mutation Register

A well-drafted RTI for mutation records should ask for:

4. A certified copy of the Mutation Register (Parivartan Nondh) entry / entries for Survey No. ___, Village ___, Taluka ___ for the last 10/20 years — including the mutation case number, the date of the mutation order, the names of the transferor and transferee (or the basis of mutation, such as inheritance, court decree, or partition order), and the name and designation of the Mamlatdar or officer who sanctioned each mutation
5. Whether a mutation application in respect of Survey No. ___, Village ___ — filed by or in favour of Name on or around date — is currently pending; and if so, the current stage of processing, the reference number assigned, whether a field inspection has been completed, and the name of the officer currently responsible for the file
6. A certified copy of the Mutation Order (Mutation Sanad) issued in respect of mutation case No. ___ / relating to Survey No. ___

For Communidade Land

A well-drafted RTI for Communidade land should ask for (addressed to the Director of Communidades, Revenue Department, Panaji):

7. A certified copy of the relevant entry in the Communidade Register maintained by the Comunidade of Village ___, Taluka ___, confirming whether Survey No. ___ is recorded as Communidade property and the terms (if any) on which any portion has been leased or alienated
8. Whether any government order, court decree, or administrative notification has affected the Comunidade's title or rights over the above survey number, and if so, a certified copy of the relevant order
9. The current legal status of the Comunidade of Village ___ — whether it is functioning, under a Receiver/Administrator, or subject to any court-supervised arrangement — and a certified copy of the most recent accounts filed by the Comunidade with the Director of Communidades

The Communidade System: A Deeper Guide for RTI Applicants

The Communidade institution requires special attention for any RTI applicant dealing with land in Goa's older coastal and rural villages. Several important points deserve emphasis:

Why Communidade Title Matters for Private Buyers

In many Goa villages — particularly in the coastal talukas of Tiswadi, Bardez, Salcete, and Mormugao — a significant portion of what appears to be privately cultivated or developed land may in fact be Communidade land that has been leased out, encroached upon, or alienated through informal or legally questionable transactions over the decades since 1961. A buyer or heir who obtains a certified Form I & XIV showing a private name as the recorded owner should also check with the Communidade records to verify that the survey number is not simultaneously claimed as Communidade property.

RTI to both the Mamlatdar and the Director of Communidades — obtained together — can expose any such dual-record situation before it causes a costly title dispute in court.

Communidade Land and Real Estate Development

Goa's rapid real estate development over the past three decades has led to extensive controversy over the conversion and development of Communidade lands. In several cases, portions of Communidade-held survey numbers have been leased or sold to developers through arrangements that are disputed or legally uncertain. The Bombay High Court (Goa Bench) and the Goa Information Commission have both dealt with cases involving suppression or manipulation of Communidade land records.

RTI is a powerful investigative tool in this context: you can obtain the Communidade register entry, the lease agreement (if any), the approval record from the Director of Communidades, and any government orders affecting the Communidade's title — and use this as the documentary basis to challenge unlawful transactions or to verify the legitimacy of a title before purchase.

The Director of Communidades as a Public Authority

The Director of Communidades is a state government officer and a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. RTI applications for Communidade register entries, Communidade accounts, orders by the Director of Communidades, and government notifications affecting Communidade land are fully maintainable. The PIO is the Director of Communidades (or a designated officer in the Director's office), and the First Appellate Authority is the Revenue Secretary or Joint Secretary (Revenue), Government of Goa. The Second Appeal goes to the Goa Information Commission — not to the CIC.

Town and Country Planning (TCP) and CRZ: Land Use Restrictions That RTI Can Reveal

Two additional regulatory frameworks profoundly affect the value and usability of land in Goa, and RTI can be used to obtain documentation of both:

Town and Country Planning (TCP) Zone

Under the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974, all land in Goa is classified into zones — Settlement Zone (residential/commercial/industrial), Agricultural Zone, Orchard Zone, Natural Zone (forest/ecology), and others — in the Regional Plan for Goa (currently Regional Plan Goa 2021, with Regional Plan 2041 under preparation). The TCP zone of a survey number determines:

• Whether the land can be converted from agricultural to non-agricultural (conversion is required before building on agricultural land)
• What types of development are permissible
• Whether conversion applications are likely to be approved

RTI to the Town and Country Planning Department, Government of Goa can confirm the TCP zone of a survey number and provide copies of any conversion orders, layout plan approvals, or regularisation proceedings relating to that survey number.

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)

A very significant portion of Goa's sought-after coastal land falls within Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas declared under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the CRZ Notification, 2019. CRZ-I areas (ecologically sensitive, including mangroves and inter-tidal zones) are subject to the strictest restrictions; CRZ-II areas (already urbanised) and CRZ-III areas (rural coastal areas) have graduated restrictions on construction and development.

RTI to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) or the Collector's office can confirm whether a specific survey number falls within a CRZ and what restrictions apply. This information is critical for any buyer, developer, or farmer considering any construction or land use change near the Goa coastline.

Practical Tips for a Stronger RTI Application

• Always specify Survey No. + Sub-division No. + Village + Taluka + District. Goa's land records system is organised by village (Mahal) and survey number — without these specifics, the PIO cannot locate the record you need. The goabhulekh.gov.in portal can help you identify the correct survey number before you file
• Check goabhulekh.gov.in before filing. The Goa Bhulekh portal (goabhulekh.gov.in) shows digitised Form I & XIV entries for many villages. Use it to verify the survey number and see the current recorded state of the title — but remember that this portal view is NOT a certified copy and cannot be used as legal evidence; you need the RTI-obtained certified copy for court, bank, or official purposes
• Distinguish Communidade from private land. Before purchasing or making a claim on Goa land, always file RTI with both the Mamlatdar (for Form I & XIV) and the Director of Communidades (for Communidade register) to rule out any dual-ownership conflict
• Request certified copies, not just information. Specifically use the phrase "certified copy" in your RTI — certified copies carry official evidentiary weight under the Indian Evidence Act and can be produced in court, land revenue proceedings, and banking transactions
• Note the 30-day mutation notice period. When a mutation application is filed in Goa, the Mamlatdar is required to issue a public notice and allow 30 days for objections before the mutation can be sanctioned. If your mutation is delayed beyond this period without any communication, RTI for the file status will reveal whether the delay is procedural or administrative and give you the evidence to escalate
• CRZ and TCP zoning can affect acquisition and conversion. If you are investigating a survey number near the coast or in a sensitive ecological area, always include a request for CRZ and TCP zone information — this can significantly affect the legal options available and the value of the land
• File with the correct authority for Communidade land. RTI for Communidade records must go to the Director of Communidades, not just the Mamlatdar. The Mamlatdar's Form I & XIV may record a private name as the owner even if the Communidade holds a competing title — only the Communidade register will reveal the Communidade's claim
• Second Appeal: Goa Information Commission, not CIC. The Revenue Department, Mamlatdar offices, DSLR, Director of Communidades, and TCP Department are all Goa state government bodies. The second appeal for RTI against any of these bodies goes to the Goa Information Commission (GIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act — filing with the Central Information Commission (CIC) would be incorrect and would not result in any relief, as the CIC has jurisdiction only over Central Government public authorities
• Keep all RTI and appeal documents. A documented RTI trail — showing that you sought land record information, what the PIO disclosed or refused to disclose, and the chain of appeals — is strong documentary evidence in any subsequent revenue court proceedings, writ petition before the Bombay High Court (Goa Bench), or complaint before the GIC regarding systemic non-compliance by a revenue office

Understanding the Appeal Process

First Appeal — Section 19(1), RTI Act

If the PIO fails to respond within 30 days of receipt of your RTI application, or if the response is partial, incorrect, or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the same office. For Mamlatdar-level RTIs, the FAA is typically the Deputy Collector or Collector (Revenue) of North Goa or South Goa district. For DSLR-level RTIs, the FAA is typically the Revenue Secretary or Director-General (Revenue), Government of Goa.

The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. No fee is payable. Attach copies of the original RTI application, the filing confirmation or postal receipt, and the PIO's response (if any). The FAA must decide the appeal within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with written reasons.

Second Appeal — Section 19(3), RTI Act

If the FAA also fails to respond satisfactorily within the stipulated period, file a Second Appeal with the Goa Information Commission (GIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act within 90 days of the FAA's order or the expiry of the FAA's deadline. The GIC was established under Section 15 of the RTI Act and has jurisdiction over all public authorities under the Government of Goa and bodies substantially financed by that government.

The GIC can:

• Direct the PIO to disclose the withheld information
• Impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to a maximum of ₹25,000) on a defaulting PIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act
• Recommend departmental proceedings against the PIO for persistent or malicious non-disclosure
• Award compensation to the RTI applicant in appropriate cases

Critical reminder: The Revenue Department, all Mamlatdar offices, the DSLR, the Director of Communidades, and the TCP Department are Goa state government bodies — the second appeal must go to the Goa Information Commission, not to the Central Information Commission (CIC). Filing with the CIC would be jurisdictionally incorrect.