The rising trend of non-Goans acquiring names and surnames of Goans has forced the government to amend theGoa Change of Name and Surname Act, 1990.
The start cabinet on Thursday granted approval for the amendments wherein the powers are now vested with the civil judge junior division and district judge to decide on name change applications. It necessitates that the applicants parents or grandparents births must be registered in Goa.
Earlier, the power was vested with either the sub-registrar or the chief registrar for births and deaths.
The government has received various complaints that non-Goans whose births are registered in Goa are availing the Services under the said Act, and changing their surnames to suit their needs akin to the names of Goans.