Govt’s move to amend Enemy Property Act unlikely to get RS nod

The Modi government's attempt to amend the 48-year-old Enemy Property Act has faced a stumbling block and is unlikely to clear the Rajya Sabha hurdle with four political parties opposing the move saying original law was balanced and fresh changes violate the basic principle of natural justice.

Congress, JD-U, CPI and Samajwadi Party said the proposed changes would result in punishing lakhs of Indian citizens and have no effect on any 'Enemy Government'.

The representatives of the four parties –K C Tyagi (JD-U), K Rahman Khan, P L Punia and Husain Dalwai (all Congress), D Raja (CPI) and Javed Ali Khan (SP) –gave their dissent notes in the Select Committee report on amendments to the Enemy Property Act, 1968, tabled in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

"The provisions of the present Bill, 2016 are contrary to the aforesaid principles and if allowed to be inserted in the Act, 1968, not only the entire balance will be disturbed but also the same would not sustain in the courts of law. Thus, we are submitting this dissent note with the request that the same may kindly be treated and circulated as part and parcel of the report of this committee," the dissent note said.

The MPs said that in their considered view, the provisions of the present bill violates the very basic Principle of Natural Justice, Human Rights and settled principles of law.