PANAJI: Taking umbrage over a trend where non-Goans were adopting surnames associated with their community, the Gomantak Bhandari Samaj has requested chief minister Pramod Sawant to investigate the matter and “put a stop” to the practice.Gomantak Bhandari Samaj, president, Ashok Naik said such a practice, which is noted in Bardez Mormugao and Salcete , was detrimental to the community. “The authorities concerned should thoroughly investigate the matter and put a stop to this illegal change of name and surname in the interest of Goan society,” Naik said.Naik pointed out that as per the Goa Name and Surname Change Act, 1990, only a person born in Goa can change his name and surname in the state. If a person who is born outside Goa changes his or her name under the act, it is considered illegal, said the community in a press note.“In spite of the prevailing law, a large number of migrants, although not born in Goa, apply for name and surname change in the state,” Naik said, adding that very often migrants adopt traditional Goan names like Naik.Either for social acceptance, employment and even property purchase, Goa has seen quite a few non-state individuals drop their ancestral name for a Goan surname.In public notices appearing in newspapers, a Sonu Sharma became Francis DSouza, a Mohan Karunakaran became Jimmy Lobo, a Maliksab Sanadi was overnight a Mark Fernandes while Ramesh Lamani became Ramesh Naik.“Abandoned houses and abandoned land are most vulnerable to encroachment,” advocate and partner at SDP & Co Legal Consultants and Advocates Malisa Simoes said. “There are non-locals changing their names and encroaching into property.”Gomantak Bhandari Samaj “strongly deplores” such practices, Naik said.The community, which has a significant presence in Goa, wants the chief registrar of Goa, the law minister and others to investigate such instances.

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