Govt process of eviction, sale of Rs 1 lakh crore enemy properties starts

The UnionHomeMinistry has started the process for eviction and sale of enemy properties, the immovable assets left behind by people who have taken of Pakistan and China.

There are a total of 12,611 establishments called Enemy Property, roughly estimated to be worth over Rs 1 lakh crore, in the country.

The enemy properties are vested with the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), an authority created under the Enemy Property Act.

According to a Home ministry notification, the guidelines for disposal of the enemy properties have been changed under which the process for eviction of enemy properties now shall be initiated with the help of the District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner concerned before the sale of properties.

Those enemy properties having valuation of Rs one crore and below Rs 100 crore, shall be disposed of by the CEPI through e-auction or otherwise as may be decided by the central government and at the rate determined by theEnemy Property Disposal Committee. The e-auction platform of public enterprise, the Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited, shall be used by the CEPI for e-auction of enemy properties.

The government has earned over Rs 3,400 crore from disposal of enemy properties, mostly movable assets like Shares and gold.

The highest number of enemy properties were found in Uttar Pradesh (6,255 properties), followed by West Bengal (4,088 properties), Delhi (659), Goa (295),Maharashtra(208), Telangana (158), Gujarat (151),Tripura(105), Bihar (94), Madhya Pradesh (94),Chhattisgarh(78) and Haryana (71).