NEW DELHI: The Enemy Property (Amendment)Ordinance is set to be re-promulgated for the fifth time with the Union Cabinet approving a proposal to the effect on Wednesday.
The ordinance seeks to amend a nearly 50-year-old law to guard against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people who migrated to Pakistan and China after wars.
After approval from the Cabinet, the Ordinance will now be sent to the President for his assent.
The ordinance needs to be re-promulgated as a Bill to amend the law could not be passed in the recently concluded Winter Session Parliament due to repeated adjournments over the demonetisation issue.
"The Bill was referred to the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha as the Congress had pressed for it. We agreed and incorporated recommendations of the Committee, still the Bill was not allowed to be passed," an official said.
"Enemy property" refers to any property belonging to, held or managed on behalf of an enemy, an enemy subject or an enemy firm.
The Centre has vested these properties in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India, an office instituted under the Central Government.
After the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the Enemy Property Act was enacted in 1968, which regulates such properties and lists the Custodian's authority.