Goa Civil Code

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
The Goa civil code is largely based on the <a href="/facts/Portuguese_India/jeLpNXfc">Portuguese</a> Civil Code (Código Civil Português) of 1867, which was introduced in Goa in 1870 (by a Decree of 18 November 1869, the Civil Code of 1867 was extended to the Overseas Provinces of Portugal<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>). Later, the code saw some modifications, based on:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>

<ul><li>the Portuguese Gentile Hindu Usages Decrees of 1880 (Código de usos e costumes dos hindus gentios de Goa)</li>
<li>the Portuguese Decrees on Marriage and Divorce of 1910 (Lei do Divórcio: Decreto de 3 de Novembro de 1910). After the establishment of the <a href="/facts/First_Portuguese_Republic/DbP5I21x">First Portuguese Republic</a>, the civil code was liberalized to give women more freedom.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a></li>
<li>the Portuguese Decrees on Canonical Marriages of 1946 (Decreto 35.461: regula o casamento nas colónias portuguesas)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a></li></ul>
The civil code was retained in Goa after its <a href="/facts/1961_Indian_annexation_of_Goa/bCH5dphw">merger</a> with the Indian Union in 1961, although in Portugal, the original Code was replaced by the new <a href="/facts/Portuguese_Civil_Code/rp3Kk8R2">Portuguese Civil Code</a> of 1966. In 1981, the Government of India appointed a Personal Law Committee to determine if the non-uniform laws of the Union could be extended to Goa. The Goa Muslim <a href="/facts/Shariah/H9cG0yCF">Shariah</a> Organization supported the move, but it was met with stiff resistance from the Muslim Youth Welfare Association and the Goa Muslim Women's Associations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>

<h2 id="differences-with-the-indian-law">Differences with the Indian law</h2>
Some ways in which the Goa Civil Code is different from other Indian laws include:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a>

<ul><li>A married couple jointly holds ownership of all the assets owned (before the <a href="/facts/Marriage/foMxzuxl">marriage</a>) or acquired (after the marriage) by each spouse. In case of a <a href="/facts/Divorce/tENy6fK3">divorce</a>, each spouse is entitled to a half share of the assets. However, the law also allows <a href="/facts/Antenuptial_agreement/BBj3YBIw">antenuptial agreements</a>, which may state a different division of assets in case of a divorce. These agreements also allow the spouses to hold the assets acquired before marriage separately. Such agreements cannot be changed or revoked. A married person cannot sell the property without the consent of his/her spouse.</li>
<li>The parents cannot <a href="/facts/Disinherit/6NR9DBBP">disinherit</a> their children entirely. At least half of their property has to be passed on to the children compulsorily. This inherited property must be shared equally among the children.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Muslim/W2ukq4pg">Muslim</a> men, who have their marriages registered in Goa, cannot practice <a href="/facts/Polygyny_in_Islam/yEPmJ5KB">polygamy</a>.</li></ul>
<h2 id="uniformity">Uniformity</h2>
The Goa Civil Code is not strictly a <a href="/facts/Uniform_civil_code/M9zEY85H">uniform civil code</a>, as it has specific provisions for certain communities. For example:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a>

<ul><li>The <a href="/facts/Hinduism/oxV9YvQh">Hindu</a> men have the right to <a href="/facts/Bigamy/ltFuNUyV">bigamy</a> under specific circumstances mentioned in Codes of Usages and Customs of Gentile Hindus of Goa (if the wife fails to deliver a child by the age of 25, or if she fails to deliver a male child by the age of 30). For other communities, the law prohibits bigamy.</li>
<li>The <a href="/facts/Roman_Catholic/rJ4F4gqH">Roman Catholics</a> can solemnize their marriages in church after obtaining a No Objection Certificate from the Civil Registrar. For others, only a civil registration of the marriage is accepted as a proof of marriage. The Catholics marrying in the church are excluded from divorce provisions under the civil law.</li>
<li>For Hindus, divorce is permitted only on the grounds of <a href="/facts/Adultery/eQ3x0EBe">adultery</a> by the wife.</li>
<li>The law has inequalities in case of <a href="/facts/Adoption/7pTMjnSI">adopted</a> and <a href="/facts/Legitimacy_(family_law)/kjNdlPeC">illegitimate</a> children.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"SC's example of Goa as a state with a Uniform Civil Code is inconsistent with Article 44". The Indian Express. 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2021-12-05. <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/uniform-civil-code-supreme-court-article-44-6004340/" target="_blank">https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/uniform-civil-code-supreme-court-article-44-6004340/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"Goan Civil Code a shining example of Indian democracy". Outlook India. Retrieved 2021-12-05. <a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/goan-civil-code-a-shining-example-of-indian-democracy/1619379" target="_blank">https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/goan-civil-code-a-shining-example-of-indian-democracy/1619379</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Mathew, C. K. "Uniform Civil Code: The Importance of an Inclusive and Voluntary Approach". The Hindu Center. Retrieved 2021-12-05. <a href="https://www.thehinducentre.com/publications/issue-brief/article29796731.ece" target="_blank">https://www.thehinducentre.com/publications/issue-brief/article29796731.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Mathew, C. K. "Uniform Civil Code: The Importance of an Inclusive and Voluntary Approach". The Hindu Center. Retrieved 2021-12-05. <a href="https://www.thehinducentre.com/publications/issue-brief/article29796731.ece" target="_blank">https://www.thehinducentre.com/publications/issue-brief/article29796731.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Nandini Chavan; Qutub Jehan Kidwai (2006). Personal Law Reforms and Gender Empowerment: A Debate on Uniform Civil Code. Hope India Publications. p. 245. ISBN 978-81-7871-079-2. Retrieved 17 January 2014. <a href="978-81-7871-079-2" target="_blank">978-81-7871-079-2</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">"Translated Portuguese Civil Code published in official gazette", The Navhind Times, 2018-10-24, retrieved 2018-10-24 <a href="http://www.navhindtimes.in/translated-portuguese-civil-code-published-in-official-gazette/" target="_blank">http://www.navhindtimes.in/translated-portuguese-civil-code-published-in-official-gazette/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">See: Vicente, Dario Moura. The Civil Code in Portugal and Goa: Common Heritage and Future Prospects. — P. 5. <a href="https://www.fd.ulisboa.pt/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Vicente-Dario-Moura-The-Civil-Code-in-Portugal-and-Goa-Common-Heritage-and-Future-Prospects.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.fd.ulisboa.pt/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Vicente-Dario-Moura-The-Civil-Code-in-Portugal-and-Goa-Common-Heritage-and-Future-Prospects.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Vivek Jain and Shraddha Gupta (2014-05-15). "Uniform and civil". The Statesman. <a href="http://www.thestatesman.net/news/54625-uniform-and-civil.html" target="_blank">http://www.thestatesman.net/news/54625-uniform-and-civil.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Fatima da Silva Gracias (1 January 1996). Kaleidoscope of Women in Goa, 1510-1961. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 90–. ISBN 978-81-7022-591-1. <a href="978-81-7022-591-1" target="_blank">978-81-7022-591-1</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">"Decreto 35.461: regula o casamento nas colónias portuguesas" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-09-05. <a href="http://www.dre.pt/pdf1s/1946/01/01500/00430048.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.dre.pt/pdf1s/1946/01/01500/00430048.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Partha S. Ghosh (23 May 2012). The Politics of Personal Law in South Asia: Identity, Nationalism and the Uniform Civil Code. Routledge. pp. 19–22. ISBN 978-1-136-70511-3. <a href="978-1-136-70511-3" target="_blank">978-1-136-70511-3</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Vivek Jain and Shraddha Gupta (2014-05-15). "Uniform and civil". The Statesman. <a href="http://www.thestatesman.net/news/54625-uniform-and-civil.html" target="_blank">http://www.thestatesman.net/news/54625-uniform-and-civil.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Vivek Jain and Shraddha Gupta (2014-05-15). "Uniform and civil". The Statesman. <a href="http://www.thestatesman.net/news/54625-uniform-and-civil.html" target="_blank">http://www.thestatesman.net/news/54625-uniform-and-civil.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Partha S. Ghosh (23 May 2012). The Politics of Personal Law in South Asia: Identity, Nationalism and the Uniform Civil Code. Routledge. pp. 19–22. ISBN 978-1-136-70511-3. <a href="978-1-136-70511-3" target="_blank">978-1-136-70511-3</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Goa Civil Code open-in-new

Goa Civil Code