Proceeds from ‘Enemy Property’ are enjoyed by the heirs.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
The state of Kerala is more than 2500 km. from Pakistan. But interestingly, Pakistani nationals own $202 million worth of immovable property in the state.
After Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Kerala has the highest number of properties owned by Pakistani nationals, according to The New Indian Express.
The property is termed ‘enemy property’ and are vested with the Custodian of Enemy Property (CEP) that comes under the Union Home Ministry. But the benefits of the property are enjoyed by their legal heirs.
With 45 Pakistani-owned properties, Malappuram district is on the top of the list, followed by Kozhikode (9), Kannur (5), Palakkad (1) and Thrissur (1) districts.
“The Pakistani citizens do not have any right over the land in the state as they belong to the Centre,” Assistant Commissioner (Land Assignment) Beena B was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
The Indian government formed the Custodian of Enemy Property after independence to take over the property left behind by individuals who migrated to Pakistan. People were given the option either to go to Pakistan or stay in India following independence.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 2186 enemy properties are in India. The state of Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of enemy properties (1468) followed by West Bengal (351), Delhi (66), and Gujarat (63).
The Lok Sabha had passed a Bill in March to amend the 48-year-old law to guard against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people who migrated to Pakistan and China after the wars. But the government couldn’t get the bill passed in the Rajya Sabha as four opposition parties opposed the move.