The Office of the Custodian of Enemy Property is located at Mumbai with
a Branch office at Calcutta. As the enemy properties are scattered throughout
the country, the work relating to their day to day preservation and management
is being done through the Revenue Departments of various State Governments. Both
movable and immovable properties of Pakistani nationals are vested in the
Custodian.
The enemy properties in India are being administered by the Custodian of
Enemy Property for India, Mumbai who is entrusted with the custody, management
and administration of enemy properties arising out of Indo-Pak Conflict of 1965
and 1971 in accordance with the provisions of the Enemy Property Act, 1968, as
amended in 1977. Enemy properties comprising both movable and immovable
properties of Pakistani nationals were valued at Rs.29.40 crores in 1971 and
are vested in Custodian in the form of:
-
land, buildings etc. Scattered throughout the country.
-
vested firms’ securities, shares, debentures, etc.
-
bank balances, cash; and
-
provident fund balances and gratuity.
Ex-Gratia Scheme:
With the approval of the Cabinet, the Govt. Of India announced Ex-gratia
Scheme on 15.3.1971, a Scheme for payment of ad-hoc ex-gratia relief from the
Consolidated Fund of India at the rate of 25% of the value of the verified
claims restricted to a maximum of Rs. 25 lakhs. The payment was described as an
ad-hoc interim ex-gratia and not compensation so that Pakistan did not get away
from its responsibility of making good the loss of Indians. This relief was to
be given to Indian nationals, Companies etc. whose assets in Pakistan were
seized by the Government of Pakistan during and after the Indo-Pak Conflict of
September, 1965 and who had notified their property with the Custodian of Enemy
Property (CEP) for India by the due date. The justification for fixing 25% cut
off point was that as against the value of Rs. 109 crores of assets of Indian
nationals seized by Pakistan, the value of assets of Pak Nationals seized in
India then amounted to Rs. 29.40 crores (25% approximately). A sum of Rs. 70.99
crores has so far been paid as ex-gratia. The last date for filing the claims
was extended thrice and finally fixed on 31.7.1977.
The Enemy Property Act, 1968
No. 34 of 1968
(20th August, 1968)
An Act to provide for the continued vesting of enemy property vested in
the Custodian of Enemy Property for India under the Defence of India Rules,
1962, and for matters connected therewith.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Nineteenth Year of the Republic of
India as follows:-
Short title, extent, application and commencement.
- (1) This Act may be called the Enemy Property Act, 1968.
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and
Kashmir and it applies also to all citizens of India outside India and to
branches and agencies outside India of companies or bodies corporate registered
or incorporated in India.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 10th day of July,
1968.
Definitions.
-
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
-
"Custodian" means the Custodian of Enemy Property for
India appointed or deemed to have been appointed under section 3 and includes a
Deputy Custodian and an Assistant Custodian of Enemy Property appointed or
deemed to have been appointed under that Section;
-
"enemy" or "enemy subject" or "enemy
firm" means a person or country who or which was an enemy, an enemy subject
or an enemy firm, as the case may be, under the Defence of India Act, 1962, and
the Defence of India Rules, 1962, but does not include a citizen of India;
-
"enemy property" means any property for the time being
belonging to or held or managed on behalf of an enemy, an enemy subject or an
enemy firm;
Provided that where an individual enemy subject dies in the territories
to which this Act extends, any property which immediately before his death,
belonged to or was held by him or was managed on his behalf, notwithstanding his
death, continue to be regarded as enemy property for the purposes of this Act;
-
"prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this
Act.
Appointment of Custodian of Enemy Property for India and
Deputy Custodian, etc.
- The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,
appoint a Custodian of Enemy Property for India and one or more Deputy
Custodians and Assistant Custodians of Enemy Property for such local areas as
may be specified in the notification.
Provided that the Custodian of Enemy Property for India and any Deputy
Custodian or Assistant Custodian of Enemy Property appointed under the Defence
of India Rules, 1962 shall be deemed to have been appointed under this Section.
Appointment of Inspectors of Enemy Property
- The Central Government may, either generally or for any particular
area by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint one or more Inspectors of
Enemy Property for securing compliance with the provisions of this Act and may,
by general or special order, provide for the distribution and allocation of the
work to be performed by them for securing such complaince:
Provided that every Inspector of enemy firms appointed under the Defence
of Rules, 1962 shall be deemed to be an Inspector of Enemy Property appointed
under this Section.
Property vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property
for India under the Defence of India Rules, 1962 to continue to vest in
Custodian.
- Notwithstanding the expiration of Defence of India Act, 1962, and the
Defence of India Rules, 1962, all enemy property vested before such expiration
in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India appointed under the said Rules and
continuing to vest in him immediately before the commencement of this Act,
shall, as from such commencement, vest in the Custodian.
Transfer of property vested in Custodian by enemy or
enemy subject or enemy firm.
- Where any property vested in the Custodian under this Act has been
transferred, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, by an enemy
or an enemy subject or an enemy firm and where it appears to the Central
Government that such transfer is injurious to the public interest or was made
with a view to evading or defeating the vesting of the property in the
Custodian, then the Central Government may, after giving a reasonable
opportunity to the transferee to be heard in the matter, by order, declare such
transfer to be void and on the making of such order the property shall continue
to vest or be deemed to vest in the Custodian.
Payment to Custodian of money otherwise payable to an
enemy, enemy subject or enemy firm.
- (1) Any sum payable by way of dividend, interest, share, profits or
otherwise to or for the benefit of an enemy or an enemy subject or an enemy firm
shall, unless otherwise ordered by the Central Government, be paid by the person
by whom such sum would have been payable but for the prohibition under the
Defence of India Rules, 1962, to the Custodian or such person as may be
authorised by him in this behalf and shall be held by the Custodian or such
person subject to the provisions of this Act.
(2) In cases in which money would, but for the prohibition under the
Defence of India Rules, 1962 be payable in a foreign currency to or for the
benefit of an enemy or an enemy subject or an enemy firm (other than cases in
which money is payable under a contract in which provision is made for a
specified rate of exchange), the payment shall be made to the Custodian in rupee
currency at the middle official rate of exchange fixed by the Reserve Bank of
India on the date on which the payment became due to that enemy, enemy subject
or enemy firm.
(3) The Custodian shall subject to the provisions of Section 8 deal with
any money paid to him under the Defence of India Rules, 1962 or under this Act
and any property vested in him under this Act in such manner as the Central
Government may direct.
Powers of Custodian in respect of enemy property
vested in him.
- (1) With respect to the property vested in the Custodian under this
Act, the Custodian may take or authorise the taking of such measures as he
considers necessary or expedient for preserving such property and where such
property belongs to an individual enemy subject, may incur such expenditure out
of the property as he considers necessary or expedient for the maintenance of
that individual or of his family in India.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the
Custodian or such person as may be specifically authorised by him in this behalf
may , for the said purpose :-
-
carry on the business of the enemy;
-
take action for recovering any money due to the enemy;
-
make any contract and execute any document in the name and on
behalf of the enemy;
-
institute, defend or continue any suit or other legal proceeding,
refer any dispute to arbitration and compromise any debts, claims and or
liabilities;
-
raise on the security of the property such loans as may be
necessary;
-
incur out of the property any such expenditure including the
payment of any taxes, duties, cesses and rates to Government or to any local
authority and of any wages, salaries, pensions, provident fund contributions to,
or in respect of any employee of the enemy and the repayment of any debts due by
the enemy to persons other than enemies;
-
transfer by way of sale, mortgate or lease or otherwise, dispose
of any of the properties.
-
invest any moneys held by him on behalf of enemies for the
purchase of Treasury Bills or such other government securities as may be
approved by the Central Government for the purpose;
-
make payments to the enemy and his dependants;
-
make payments on behalf of enemy to persons other than those who are
enemies, of dues outstanding on the 25th October, 1962; and
-
make such other payments out of the funds of the enemy as may be
directed by the Central Government .
Explanation: In this sub-section and in Sections 10 and 17 ‘enemy’
includes an enemy subject and an enemy firm.
Exemption from attachment, etc.
- All enemy property vested in the Custodian under this Act shall be
exempt from attachment, seizure or sale in execution of decree of a civil court
or orders of any other authority.
Transfer of securities belonging to an enemy.
- (1) Where, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 8, the
Custodian proposes to sell any security issued by a company and belonging to an
enemy, the company may, with the consent of the Custodian, purchase the
securities, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any law or in any
regulation of the company and any securities so purchased may be re-issued by
the company as and when it thinks fit so to do.
(2) Where the Custodian executes and transfers any securities issued by
a company, the company shall, on receipt of the transfer and an order in this
behalf from the Custodian register the securities in the name of the transferee
notwithstanding that the regulations of the company do not permit such
registration in the absence of the certificate, script or other evidence of
title relating to the securities transferred.
Provided that any such registration shall be without prejudice to any
lien or charge in favour of the company and to any other lien or charge of which
the Custodian gives express notice to the company.
Explanation: In this Section ‘securities’ includes shares, stocks,
bonds, debentures and debenture stock but does not include bills of exchange.
Powers of Custdian to summon persons and call for
documents
- (1) The Custodian may, by notice in writing, require any person whom
he believes to be capable of giving information concerning any enemy property to
attend before him at such time and place as may be specified in the notice and
examine any such person concerning the same, reduce his statement to writing and
require him to sign it.
(2) The Custodian may, by notice in writing, require any person whom he
believes to have in his possession or control any account book, letter book,
invoice, receipt or other document of whatever nature relating to any enemy
property, to produce the same or cause the same to be produced before the
Custodian at such time and place as may be specified in the notice and to submit
the same to his examination and to allow copies of any entry therein or any part
thereof to be taken by him.
Protection for complying with orders of Custodian
- Where any order with respect to any money or property is addressed
to any person by the Custodian and accompanied by a certificate of the Custodian
that the money or property is money or property vested in him under this Act,
the certificate shall be evidence of the facts stated therein and if that person
complies with the orders of the Custodian, he shall not be liable to any suit or
other legal proceeding by reason only of such compliance.
Validity of action taken in pursuance of orders of
Custodian
- Where under this Act:-
-
any money is paid to the Custodian; or
-
any property is vested in the Custodian or an order is given to any
person by the Custodian in relation to any property which appears to the
Custodian to be enemy property vested in him under this Act,
neither the payment, vesting nor order of the Custodian nor any
proceedings in consequence thereof shall be invalidated or affected by reason
only that at a material time-
- some person who was or might have been interested in the money or
property, and who was an enemy or an enemy firm, had died or had ceased to be an
enemy or an enemy firm; or
- some person who was so interested and who was believed by the
Custodian to be an enemy or an enemy firm, was not an enemy or an enemy firm.
Proceedings against companies whose assets vest in
Custodian.
- Where the enemy property vested in the Custodian under this Act
consists of assets of a company, no proceeding, civil or criminal, shall be
instituted under the Companies Act, 1956, against the company or any director,
manager or other officer thereof except with the consent in writing of the
Custodian.
Returns as to enemy property.
- (1) The Custodian may call for from persons who, in his opinion,
have any interest in, or control over, any enemy property vested in him under
this Act, such returns as may be prescribed.
(2) Every person from whom a return is called for under sub-section(1)
shall be bound to submit such return within the prescribed period.
Registers of returns.
- (1) All returns relating to enemy property submitted to the
Custodian under this Act shall be recorded in such registers as may be
prescribed.
(2) All such registers shall be open to inspection subject to the
payment of such fees as may be prescribed and to such reasonable restrictions as
the Custodian may impose, to any person who, in the opinion of the Custodian, is
interested in any particular enemy property as a creditor or otherwise and any
such person may also obtain a copy of the relevant portion from the registers on
payment of the prescribed fees.
Levy of fees.
- (1) There shall be levied by the Custodian fees equal to two per
centum of-
-
the amount of moneys paid to him;
-
the proceedings of the sale or transfer of any property which has
been vested in him under this Act; and
-
the value of the residual property, if any, at the time of its
transfer to the original owner or other person specified by the Central
Government under section 18.
Provided that in the case of an enemy whose property is allowed by the
Custodian to be managed by some person specially authorised in that behalf,
there shall be levied a fee of two per centum of the gross income of the enemy
or such less fees as may be specifically fixed by the Central Government after
taking into consideration the cost of direct management incurred by that
Government, the cost of superior supervision and any risks that may be incurred
by that Government in respect of the management.
Provided further that the Central Government may, for reasons to be
recorded in writing, reduce or remit the fees leviable under this sub-section in
any special case or class of cases.
Explanation: In this sub-section "gross income of the enemy"
means income derived out of the properties of the enemy vested in the Custodian
under this Act.
-
The value of any property for the purpose of assessing the fees
shall be the price which, in the opinion of the Central Government or of an
authority empowered in this behalf by the Central Government, such property
would fetch if sold in the open market.
-
The fees in respect of property may be levied out of any proceeds of
the sale or transfer thereof or out of any income accrued therefrom or out of
any other property belonging to the same enemy and vested in the Custodian under
this Act.
-
The fees levied under this section shall be credited to the Central
Government.
Divesting of enemy property vested in the Custodian.
- The Central Government may, by general or special order, direct that
any enemy property vested in the Custodian under this Act and remaining with him
shall be divested from him and be returned, in such manner as may be prescribed,
to the owner thereof or to such other person as may be specified in the
direction and thereupon such property shall cease to vest in the Custodian and
shall revest in such owner or other person.
Protection of action taken under the Act.
- No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the
Central Government or the Custodian or an Inspector of Enemy Property for
anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.
Penalty.
- (1) If any person makes any payment in contravention of the
provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 7, he shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with
both and the payment or dealing shall be void.
(2) If any person contravenes the provisions of sub-section (2) of
Section 10, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to six months, or with fine, or with both.
(3) If any person fails to comply with a requisition made by the
Custodian under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 11, he shall be
punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
(4) If any person fails to submit the return under sub-section (2) of
section 15, or furnishes such return containing any particular which is false
and which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true, he shall be
punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
Offences by companies.
- (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company,
every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and
was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company
as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be
liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly;
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any
such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was
committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to
prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an
offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the
offcence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is
attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or
other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer
shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be
proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation: For the purpose of this Section:
-
"company" means anybody corporate and includes a firm or
other association of individuals; and
-
‘director", in relation to a firm means a partner in the
firm.
Effect of laws inconsistent with the Act.
- The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding
anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in
force.
Power to make rules.
- (1) The Central Government may make rules for carrying out the
purposes of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such
rules may provide for-
-
the returns that may be called for by the Custodian under
sub-section (1) of Section 15 and the period within which such returns shall be
submitted under sub-section (2) of that section
-
the registers in which the returns relating to enemy property shall
be recorded under section 16.
-
the fees for the inspection of registers and for obtaining copies of
the relevant portions from the registers under sub-section (2) of Section 16.
-
the manner in which enemy property vested in the Custodian may be
returned under Section 18.
-
any other matter which has to be or may be prescribed.
(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Section shall
be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament
while it is in session for a total period of 30 days which may be comprised in
one session or in two successive sessions and if before the expiry of the
session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following both Houses
agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule
should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified
form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything
previously done under that rule.
Certain orders made under the Defence of India
Rules, 1962 to continue in force
- Every order which was made under the Defence of India Rules, 1962,
by the Central Government or by the Custodian of Enemy Property for India
appointed under those Rules, relating to enemy property and which was in force
immediately before the expiration thereof shall, in so far as such order is not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to continue in force and
to have been made under this Act.
Repeal and saving.
- (1) The Enemy Property Ordinance, 1968, is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under
the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the
corresponding provisions of this Act.
The Enemy Property (Amendment) Act, 1977
(An Act to Amend the Enemy Property Act, 1968.)
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-eighth Year of the Republic of
India as follows:-
Short title and commencement.
- (1) This Act may be called the Enemy Property (Amendment) Act, 1977.
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 27th Day of
September, 1977.
Amendment of long title.
- In the long title of the Enemy Property Act, 1968 (hereinafter
referred to as the principal Act), after the words and figures "Defence of
India Rules, 1962 " the words and figures " and the Defence of India
Rules, 1971" shall be inserted.
Amendment of Section 2.
- In clause (b) of section 2 of the principal Act, after the words and
figures "Defence of India Rules, 1962" the words and figures "or
the Defence of India Act, 1971 nmd the Defence of India Rules, 1971" shall
be inserted.
Amendment of Section 3.
- In the proviso to section 3 of the principal Act, after the words and
figures "Defence of India Rules, 1962 ", the words and figures
"or the Defence of India Rules, 1971", as the case may be" shall
be inserted.
Amendment of Section 4.
- In the proviso to section 4 of the principal Act, after the words and
figures "Defence of India Rules, 1962 ", the words and figures
"or the Defence of India Rules, 1971", as the case may be" shall
be inserted.
Amendment of Section 5.
- Section 5 of the principal Act shall be renumbered as sub-section
(1) thereof and after that sub-section as so renumbered, the following
sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-
"(2) Notwithstanding the expiration of the Defence of India Act,
1971 and the Defence of India Rules, 1971, all enemy property vested before such
expiration in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India appointed under the said
Rules and continuing to vest in him immediately before the commencement of the
Enemy Property (Amendment) Act, 1977 shall, as from such commencement, vest in
the Custodian".
Amendment of Section 7.
- In section 7 of the principal Act, after the words and figures "Defence
of India Rules, 1962" wherever they occur, the words and figures "or
the Defence of India Rules, 1971, as the case may be" shall be inserted.
Amendment of Section 8.
- In sub-section (2) of section 8 of the principal Act, in clause (x),
after the figures, letters and word :25th October, 1962" , the words,
figures and letters "or on the 3rd December, 1971" shall be inserted.
Amendment of Section 23.
- In sub-section (3) of section 23 of the principal Act, for the words
"or in two successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session in
which it is so laid or the session immediately following" the words
"or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the
session immediately following the session of the successive sessions
aforesaid’ shall be substituted.
Amendment of Section 24.
- Section 24 of the principal Act shall be renumbered as sub-section
(1) thereof and after that sub-section as so renumbered, the following
sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-
"(2) Every order which was made under the Defence of India Rules,
1971 by the Central Government or by the Custodian of Enemy Property for India
appointed under those Rules relating to enemy property and which was in force
immediately before the expiration there of shall, in so far as such order is not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to continue in force and
to have been made under this Act".
Repeal and saving.
- (1) The Enemy Property (Amendment) Ordinance, 1977 is hereby
repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under
the principal Act, as amended by the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have
been done or taken under the principal Act as amended by this Act.
Published in Part I Section 1 of the Gazette of India
dated the 10th April, 1971.
Government of India
Ministry of Foreign Trade
New Delhi, the 15th March, 1971.
RESOLUTION
No. 12/1/71-EI&EP - The question of giving some relief to the Indian
nationals, companies etc. whose assets in Pakistan were seized by the Government
of Pakistan during and after the Indo-Pakistan Conflict of September, 1965 and
who have notified their losses to and filed claims with the Custodian of Enemy
Property for India has been engaging the attention of the Government of India
for some time. The Government of India have now decided that an ad-hoc interim
relief in the form of ex-gratia grants from the Consolidated Fund of India at
the rate of 25 per cent of the value of the verified claims, restricted to a
maximum of Rs. 25 lakhs in each case may be made to all Indian nationals and
Indian companies against a bond to be executed by the recipients. However, if in
any case this limit exceeds, it may be decided on merit. Such payments will be
taken into account and adjusted when the properties of the Indian
nationals/companies concerned are restored to them by the Government of Pakistan
in terms of the Tashkent Agreement or when any amount becomes payable to them on
that account.
Ordered that a copy of the Resolution be communicated to the Custodian
of Enemy Property for India, Bombay.
Ordered that the Resolution be published in the Gazette of India for
general information.
Sd/-
(Bhagwan Singh)
Additional Secretary to the Govt. Of India.
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