‘Fernandes by fraud’: Goa vows crackdown as outsiders hijack local surnames

In a heated session of the Goa Legislative Assembly on August 4, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured stricter enforcement — and possible tightening — of the Goa Change of Name and Surname Act, 1990, amid growing concern over outsiders allegedly assuming Goan surnames to claim benefits and entitlements.

The trigger? A growing list of cases like “Manjunath” attempting to become “Francisco Fernandes” — a symbolic shift that legislators across party lines said strikes at the heart of Goa’s cultural and demographic identity.

Raising the issue through a calling attention motion, Opposition MLAs Viresh Borkar (Revolutionary Goans Party), Altone D’Costa (Congress), and Vijai Sardesai (Goa Forward Party) warned of a trend where people from outside the state are exploiting legal loopholes to adopt Goan names through newspaper declarations and other legal channels.

“This is not just a fraud — it's a cultural invasion,” said Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai. “Our names carry the weight of our history and community. This identity theft must stop.”

Congress leader Yuri Alemao added, “This is perceived as an invasion — from one state to another, from one community to another. It’s disturbing.”

Sawant responded by reaffirming the government's commitment to preserving the authenticity of Goan identity. “We will not allow misuse of our system,” he said. “If required, we will further tighten the law to ensure that no ineligible person can adopt a Goan name.”

He highlighted amendments made to the original 1990 Act — particularly the 2019 provision that made fraudulent name changes a cognizable offence, and the 2022 amendment that imposed strict eligibility conditions: the applicant must be born in Goa, have their birth registered in the state, and have at least one parent or grandparent also born in Goa. Only those meeting these criteria can legally seek a name change.

Further, the power to approve such applications now rests not with local registrars, but with judicial authorities — a move intended to bolster scrutiny.

“This isn’t just about names,” said Sardesai. “It’s about safeguarding Goa’s future — culturally, socially, and demographically.”

As the issue continues to stir public debate, the Sawant government faces mounting pressure to strike a balance between individual rights and the protection of a unique regional identity — one surname at a time.