Government will directly take possession of properties of Pakistani-Chinese citizens, preparation to change the law

New Delhi: The Central Government is preparing to bring changes in the ‘Enemy Property Act’. These changes will give the government even greater powers over enemy properties. Meaning, the government will be able to directly own these properties and use them in ‘public interest’. According to this law of 1968, the properties which are considered to belong to enemy countries, remain with the ‘Custodian of Enemy Property’. Neither can they get any heir, nor can they be sold. There were some changes in it in 2017, due to which the definition of ‘enemy citizen’ and ‘enemy company’ became a little more clear. But now the government wants to have direct control over these properties. If sources are to be believed, these changes have become necessary after the Supreme Court’s decision in a case related to Lucknow Municipal Corporation.

Enemy properties will be used in public interest

The government says that it can take these properties for ‘public interest’ or any other purpose. And the ‘Custodian’ will have to transfer these assets to the government without any restriction. These changes are proposed under Section 5 of the Act. There is news that this may be discussed in the cabinet this week. And this bill can also be presented in Parliament in the budget session.

Enemy properties worth ₹3,494.93 crore sold in six years

In the last six years, the central government has made money by selling enemy properties worth Rs 3,494.93 crore. After the wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971 and China in 1962, the Indian government took over the properties and businesses of those who had taken citizenship of Pakistan or China. Under the ‘Defence of India Rules’ which were made under the ‘Defence of India Act, 1962’, these properties were handed over to the ‘Custodian’. The job of the ‘Custodian’ is to manage these assets on behalf of the government.

Group of ministers monitors the sale

In January 2018, the government had told the Lok Sabha that there were 9,280 enemy properties of Pakistani nationals and 126 of Chinese nationals. The same year, the Cabinet had approved the process of selling enemy shares worth more than Rs 3,000 crore. A total of 65,075,877 shares of 996 companies with 20,232 shareholders were identified. In 2020, the Central Government formed a ‘Group of Ministers’ under the chairmanship of Amit Shah. Its job is to oversee the sale of more than 9,400 enemy properties worth about Rs 1 lakh crore.