KOZHIKODE: Pakistani nationals owning parcels of land in god’s own Country? Sounds weird and forbidding? Yes, it is a reality but not menacing as one might think.
At a time when people scramble for a piece of land in the state, as many as 60 Pakistan nationals own immovable properties worth `1,375.22 crore in Kerala. Though these pieces of property called “Enemy Property” are vested with the Custodian of Enemy Property (CEP) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), their legal heirs are enjoying the benefits. Kerala has the fifth highest valued landholdings owned by Pakistanis in the country next only to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, according to MHA. The latest field survey and valuation were conducted by intelligence, revenue wing and surveyors.
The State Revenue Department records show Malappuram with the highest number of Pakistani-owned landholdings (45) followed by Kozhikode (9), Kannur (5), Palakkad (1) and Thrissur (1).
Officials said they were verifying the details of the Enemy Property and district collectors concerned have been directed to furnish revised reports as details pertaining to all such properties need to be updated in the state register.
“The Pakistani citizens do not have any right over the land in the state as these belong to the central government. The pieces of property are under CEP though a few legal heirs use it,” said Assistant Commissioner Beena B.
She said the survey was con-ducted to identify movable and immovable assets of Pakistan and Chinese nationals. Following migration of people from India to Pakistan after inde-pendence, the property owned by these people in India was taken over by Indian government under rules framed under Enemy Property Act enacted in 1968. Such properties were termed ‘Enemy Properties’.
After the post-independence migration of people from India to Pakistan, properties owned by them in India were handed over to the Custodian of Enemy Property for India under rules framed under Enemy Property Act enacted in 1968 and termed ‘Enemy Properties’. Such property matters are being dealt in terms of the Enemy Property (Amendment and validation) Ordinance promulgated on January 7, 2016.