Enemy Property Act, 1968

Amendments

Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2017

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju during the Modi Government introduced the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016. The measure seeks to replace an ordinance promulgated to this effect on 7 January 2016.

The 2016 bill seeks to do the following:

• The Bill amends the Enemy Property Act, 1968, to vest all rights, titles and interests over enemy property in the Custodian of the Enemy Property for India.
• The Bill declares transfer of enemy property by the enemy, conducted under the Act, to be void. This applies retrospectively to transfers that have occurred before or after 1968.
• The Bill prohibits civil courts and other authorities from entertaining disputes related to enemy property.

The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 10 March 2017. The Bill, with amendments made in the Rajya Sabha, was passed by the Lok Sabha on 14 March 2017.