Panaji, July 17 - Goa has borrowed a law from Punjab for safeguarding the property of Goans working or settled abroad, the state's commissioner for non-resident Indian (NRI) affairs Eduardo Faleiro said Friday.

The Goa Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control (Amendment) Act, that came into force in June, was largely modelled on the East Punjab Rent Restriction (Amendment) Act which allows NRIs to recover possession of their rented premises through speedy summary trial, Faleiro told media persons here.

'Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh had suggested the legislation to me, which I forwarded to the state government. This law will certainly help to safeguard the property of our Goan brothers who are working or settled abroad,' the former minister of state for external affairs said, noting that Punjab had the best measures in place for dealing with NRIs.

'Earlier they (NRIs) would have to wait for longer periods of time demanded by the conventional judicial process. With this amendment, the cases are summarily heard by the Rent Controller's Office and there is no appeal,' Faleiro said.