Enemy property in Goa comes under scanner TNN 16 November 2009, 07:11am IST
PANAJI: Over a century after many Goans migrated to Pakistan, a tussle appears imminent between the Indian government and descendants of these Pakistani Goans over their properties, today known in government circles as enemy properties. Letters from the custodian of enemy properties to the revenue authorities in Goa to include the custodians name in form I and XIV (record of survey number, type of land, ownership and tenancy) of land records has sent revenue officials into a tizzy. A major problem they face is that many of these properties are now held by family members of Pakistani nationals. For instance, senior citizen Antonio Sebastian Luis lives with his family in his ancestral house at Nachinola, Bardez. The property survey number is, however, registered in the name of his paternal uncle who migrated to Pakistan. Revenue officials are puzzled over how to include the custodian of enemy property in that form I and XIV. Efforts are, however, on to identify such properties in the state. North Goa additional collector Narayan Sawant said that all mamlatdars have been asked to prepare a list of enemy properties in their talukas. The collector will then forward the details to the law department for further action. Enemy properties are those whose survey numbers are registered in the names of Goans who migrated to Pakistan decades ago. After these Goans accepted Pakistani citizenship and India declared Pakistan an enemy state around 1965, these properties were declared enemy properties. On September 11, 1965, a central government notification stated that all immoveable properties in India belonging to or held or managed on behalf of Pakistani nationals are to be treated as enemy properties and that control of these properties vested in the custodian of enemy property. With the help of details provided by the custodian of enemy property for India, Mumbai, the Bardez mamlatdar has tentatively identified 69 such enemy properties in Bardez. The Tiswadi mamlatdar has identified another 12 such properties in Ela and St Cruz villages of Tiswadi. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Enemy-property-in-Goa-comes-under-scanner/articleshow/5234264.cms
