Custodian of enemy property shifted to Home Ministry

New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) All responsibilties related to enemy property in the country, which were being handled by the Department of Commerce until now, have been shifted to the Union Home Ministry.

The Government through Presidential Notification of June 28, 2007 transferred custody, management and administration of enemy properties arising out of Indo-Pak conflicts of 1965 and 1971 in accordance with the provisions of the Enemy Property Act, 1968, as amended in 1977.

The transfer to department of Internal Security has been done as the Home Ministry can keep a "superior, closer and more sustained interface with the state Governments," an official statement said today. This will facilitate the functioning of the Mumbai-based Office of the Custodian of Enemy Property for India in liaising with the state administration for effective implementation of the mandate given to him under the Act, the statement added.

As the enemy properties are scattered throughout the country, the work relating to their day-to-day preservation and management is being done through revenue departments of various state governments.

Both movable and immovable properties of Pakistani nationals are vested in the Custodian appointed by the Central government under section 3 of the Enemy Property Act, 1968 as amended in 1977. Such properties were valued at Rs 29.40 crore in 1971 and are vested with the Custodian.

The Custodian is authorised to levy fees equal to two per cent on the gross income from such properties.

The Custodian is also tasked to settling claims for ex-gratia payments to Indian nationals or companies whose properties were seized by Pakistan during and after 1965 Indo-Pak conflict.

UNI