As per the Enemy Property Act, 1968, ‘enemy property’ refers to any property that was belonging to a person who migrated from India to an enemy country when a war broke out. During World War II, the US and the UK took over the properties of people who fled their shores to settle in ‘enemy’ countries such as Germany and Japan. This was touted as a move to protect their turf from hostile forces in enemy States who might take control of such assets and use it to their advantage. Similarly, in India too, after the war with China and Pakistan in 1962 and 1965, the government took over the properties, under the Defence of India Act, from persons who migrated to these countries. The confiscated property included both movable and immovable properties — securities, jewellery, land, and buildings. Later in 1968, a law called the Enemy Property Act was enacted to regulate such properties and entrusted with the Custodian of Enemy Property. Now, for the first time, the government has decide...