Document Guide · Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
How to Check a Portuguese Colonial Record in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu — Complete Guide 2026
Portuguese colonial records are historical ownership documents tracing land title in Daman and Diu back to the pre-1961 colonial era. Any property in Daman may carry a Portuguese-era chain of title that must be reconciled with current revenue records before a sale proceeds. This guide covers how to trace, obtain, and verify these records.
Quick Reference
1
What is a Portuguese Colonial Record in Daman and Diu?
Definition
Portuguese colonial records are historical land ownership documents created under Portuguese administration during Daman and Diu's colonial period, which lasted until 1961. They are governed by the Goa, Daman and Diu Land Revenue Code, 1968, which consolidated colonial and post-liberation land laws into a single framework.
Daman fell under Portuguese rule in 1559 and remained so for over four centuries, until Operation Vijay on 19 December 1961 brought both Daman and Diu into the Indian Union. During this long period, Portuguese authorities maintained their own land registers, title deeds, and cadastral records. When Indian administration took over, these records did not disappear. They became the base layer of the current revenue system. Any land in Daman that changed hands, was inherited, or was recorded before 1961 will have some form of Portuguese-era documentation in its title chain.
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How to Get Portuguese Colonial Records in Daman and Diu: Step-by-Step
Obtaining and verifying Portuguese colonial records in Daman requires both offline access to the Revenue Department and use of the SUGAM online portal. Have the survey number, plot number, and owner's name ready before you begin.
Online method (recommended)
1
Access the SUGAM Portal Visit sugam
dddgov.in. This is the official digital services platform for the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Create an account or log in with your credentials.
2
Navigate to Revenue Services Go to the Revenue Department section
Look for "Form No. I and XIV (RoR)" which is the current Record of Rights. This will show you the present ownership status linked to the survey number.
3
Request a Certified Copy Use the portal to apply for a certified copy of the RoR
You will need the exact survey number for the parcel. The RoR reflects any mutations recorded after the colonial period and is the starting point for tracing backward.
The RoR alone does not show the colonial-era history. Cross-reference the earliest recorded mutation date to identify whether pre-1961 records are involved.
4
Contact Revenue Dept for Historical Records For actual Portuguese-era documents predating 1961, submit a formal request at the Revenue Department, Daman (Collectorate Campus, Dholar, Moti Daman)
These older records are held offline.
Offline method (Sub-Registrar Office)
1
Visit the CSC / Tehsil Centre Visit the nearest Common Service Centre or the Tehsil office in Daman
Carry the survey number, plot number, and any documents the current owner has provided.
2
Collect and Fill the Application Form Obtain the application form from the centre
Fill in all required land details accurately. The form covers the certified copy request for land records.
3
Pay the Fee and Submit Pay the applicable fee as quoted by the authority
Attach required documents and submit. Collect the acknowledgement slip.
Ask specifically for records predating 1961 if the land has a colonial-era history. Specify that you need the historical chain, not just the current entry.
4
Collect the Record Return to the CSC with your acknowledgement slip to collect the certified copy once verification is complete
Processing time:.
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What Do Portuguese Colonial Records in Daman and Diu Contain?
The colonial-era records and the modern Form I and XIV that succeeded them together capture ownership history, land classification, survey boundaries, and any encumbrances or tenancy claims on the parcel.
| Field | What It Shows | Verification Check |
|---|---|---|
| Owner's Name (Historical) | Records the person who held title during the Portuguese period | Verify that it aligns with the seller's ancestral lineage and chain of title. |
| Survey Number / Artigo Number | Parcel identifier, often recorded using the older Portuguese Artigo numbering system | Cross-check the Artigo number against the modern survey number in the current Record of Rights (RoR). |
| Land Area | Extent of the parcel as measured under the Portuguese cadastral survey | Compare the area with the current RoR entry and investigate any discrepancy. |
| Land Classification | Classification of the land such as dry crop, garden, rice field, or non-arable land under colonial records | Confirm whether the property is classified as agricultural or non-agricultural land. |
| Tenancy / Cultivation Notes | Details of any tenant or cultivator recorded as occupying the land | Check for surviving tenancy rights or cultivation claims that may affect ownership or possession. |
| Encumbrances / Charges | Mortgages, liens, or other claims registered against the property | Verify that any historical encumbrances have been properly discharged and removed from the title. |
| Mutation Entries | Records of ownership transfers, inheritance, or other title changes over time | Ensure all mutations are properly recorded and correspond with the current ownership claimed by the seller. |
Good sign: The document shows a clear chain of ownership from the colonial period, with Artigo or survey numbers matching current RoR entries, no outstanding tenancy claims, and all mutations formally recorded.
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Common Issues With Portuguese Colonial Records in Daman and Diu
These records carry layered risks that modern revenue documents in other states do not, and buyers must understand each one before signing anything.
Artigo Number Not Reconciled With Survey Number
Older Portuguese records use Artigo (Article) numbers from the Matriz, a colonial tax register. Modern records use Indian survey numbers. If no formal reconciliation was done after 1961, the property exists in two numbering systems that are never officially linked. Title searches done only in modern records will miss the colonial-era history entirely.
Fix: Ask a lawyer familiar with colonial records to conduct a manual reconciliation between the Artigo number and the current survey number before proceeding.
Inheritance Gaps from Colonial Period
Many families inherited land in Daman after 1961 without formally completing the mutation in the revenue records. The property may appear in the current owner's name through informal possession, but the revenue entry still reflects an ancestor from before liberation. Gaps like this make a clean title legally uncertain.
Fix: Insist on a succession certificate or legal heirship documentation tracing ownership from the colonial-period holder to the present seller.
Tenancy Claims Surviving from Portuguese Era
The Goa, Daman and Diu Land Revenue Code 1968 carried forward tenancy protections from the colonial period. A tenant who cultivated land under the Portuguese administration may still hold legal rights. These claims do not always appear in current revenue records and are often discovered only during physical inspection or litigation.
Fix: Conduct a physical site visit and inquire locally about any cultivators. Cross-reference Form I and XIV for any tenancy notation before paying any advance.
Colonial Mortgages Not Discharged
Properties in Daman can carry mortgages or charges registered under Portuguese law that were never formally discharged in the Indian system. A seller may have a clean-looking current title while the property still carries an old colonial-era lien in offline records.
Fix: Request a certified historical search of encumbrances from the Revenue Department going back to pre-1961 records. Do not rely only on current Form XIV entries.
Mismatch in Land Area Between Colonial and Current Records
The Portuguese cadastral surveys used different measurement standards. Land area recorded in colonial documents may not match the area shown in modern records after remeasurement. This discrepancy becomes a legal complication during registration.
Fix: Commission a fresh revenue survey of the parcel and compare the result with both the colonial record and current RoR before finalising the transaction.
Missing or Damaged Physical Records
Physical colonial-era records in Daman have not all been digitised. Some are held in the Revenue Department in deteriorating paper form. A seller who cannot produce the original colonial document is not always being dishonest, but the absence of the record creates a verification gap that cannot be safely ignored.
Fix: Make production of the original colonial record, or a certified copy from the Revenue Department, a condition of the sale agreement.
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Why Portuguese Colonial Records Matter for Land Buyers in Daman and Diu
No other document type in the Daman land market carries the historical complexity and legal weight that Portuguese colonial records do.
Foundation of Title These records are the starting point of ownership
Any modern title in Daman traces back to them. If the colonial base is unverified, the current title rests on an unconfirmed foundation, regardless of how clean the current revenue entry appears.
Portuguese title Daman Diu buyer verification risk The most common risk buyers face is skipping the colonial trace and relying only on the current Form I and XIV
A property can appear fully in order in modern records while carrying unresolved colonial-period claims. Discovery after purchase is expensive and legally complex.
Bank Loan Eligibility Banks financing property purchases in Daman require a clear chain of title
A property with an unverified colonial-era history will face scrutiny during the bank's legal due diligence. Reconciling records before approaching a bank saves time and preserves the loan option.
Daman-specific: UT Administration Change in 2020 Daman and Diu merged with Dadra and Nagar Haveli to form a single UT on 26 January 2020
Administrative consolidation is ongoing. Record-keeping practices, digitisation levels, and access points for historical records are all still evolving. Buyers in 2025 and 2026 should confirm current record access procedures directly with the Revenue Department, DDD.
Red flag: A seller who claims the colonial records are "not required" or "too old to matter" is telling you something important. Every property in Daman has a colonial-era history. Walk away if the historical trace cannot be provided.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Portuguese colonial records in Daman and Diu land transactions?
These are historical ownership documents created under Portuguese rule, which lasted in Daman and Diu until 1961. They record the original chain of title for land parcels. Any property in Daman may have colonial-era entries that must be traced before the current ownership can be considered fully verified.
Is it necessary to check Portuguese colonial records before buying land in Daman?
Yes, without exception. The current Form I and XIV in Daman reflects post-1961 entries but may not capture unresolved colonial-period gaps in title. Skipping the historical trace is the single biggest due diligence failure buyers make in this market.
Where can I get Portuguese colonial land records in Daman and Diu?
Start at sugam.dddgov.in for current Form I and XIV records. For historical colonial-era documents predating 1961, visit the Revenue Department at Collectorate Campus, Dholar, Moti Daman, or contact the nearest CSC/Tehsil Centre.
What is the difference between an Artigo number and a survey number in Daman land records?
Artigo numbers come from the Portuguese Matriz tax register used before 1961. Survey numbers are the identifiers used in the modern Indian revenue system. If no formal reconciliation was done after liberation, these two numbering systems may not be officially linked, creating a gap in the title chain.
Can old colonial tenancy rights affect my purchase in Daman?
They can. The Goa, Daman and Diu Land Revenue Code 1968 preserved certain tenancy protections from the colonial period. A cultivator who farmed the land under Portuguese administration may still hold rights. These claims often do not appear in current records and surface only after purchase.
How does the 2020 merger of Daman and Diu with Dadra and Nagar Haveli affect land records?
The administrative merger in January 2020 consolidated the two UTs but did not change property law or existing land records. Revenue services are now managed under the unified UT administration. Access to records goes through ddd.gov.in and sugam.dddgov.in. Confirm current procedures directly with the Revenue Department.
What law governs land records and colonial documents in Daman and Diu today?
The Goa, Daman and Diu Land Revenue Code, 1968 governs land tenure, revenue records, and related processes. It consolidated the colonial land laws into a unified Indian framework after 1961. Colonial-era records are recognised within this framework but require reconciliation with modern entries.
What should I do if the seller cannot produce Portuguese colonial records in Daman?
Do not proceed without them. Make production of the original record, or a certified copy from the Revenue Department, a firm condition in the sale agreement. If the seller cannot or will not provide this, treat it as a red flag for unresolved title issues.
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