Will the Enemy Property Bill be passed in Rajya Sabha?

New Delhi, July 18: With the monsoon session of Parliament starting on Monday all eyes would be on the GST Bill. However, there is another bill that the government would want to be passed and that is the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill of 2016. The same had been passed in the Lok Sabha in March this year.

The Enemy Property Bill was later sent to the 23 member Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha. While the BJP wants the bill passed, several representatives of the Samajwadi Party, CPI, JD(U) and Congress have opposed this while sending out dissent notes to the committee.

What is the Enemy Property Bill?

Following the migration that took place in the aftermath of the 1965 and 1971 wars, the government took over the properties and companies of those persons who then became Pakistani nationals. These properties and companies were declared as enemy properties.

The properties were then vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India, which is an office under the union government. The highest number of such properties were found in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi.

Through this amendment, the government proposes to ensure that no claims of succession or transfer is made.

Following the death of the person who had migrated to Pakistan, the tag enemy ceases to exist and hence his or her relatives can claim the property.

The government however, wants to ensure that this is not allowed and all such properties remain vested with the Custodian of Enemy Property for India.

However, many are opposed to the amendment. The JD(U) will oppose the bill and is likely to get the support of the CPI and the TMC as well. The BJP however is insistent that this Bill goes through and will place the ordinance copy before the House which will be followed by the Bill.

OneIndia News