The Rajya Sabha today passed the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill,2016 with some amendments moved by the government. The Bill moved by Home Minister Rajnath Singh will replace the ordinance promulgated by the government.It guards against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people who migrated to Pakistan and China after wars. <br/><br/>The Bill amends the Enemy Property Act, 1968, to vest all rights, titles and interests over enemy property in the Custodian. It also declares transfer of enemy property by the enemy, conducted under the Act, to be void. This applies retrospectively to transfers that have occurred before or after 1968. <br/><br/>After the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the Enemy Property Act was enacted in 1968, which regulates such properties and lists the Custodian's powers. As per the amendments, once an enemy property is vested in the Custodian, it shall continue to be vested in him as enemy property irrespective of whether the enemy, enemy subject or enemy firm has ceased to be an enemy due to reasons such as death.<br/><br/>The amendments are aimed at plugging the loopholes in the Act to ensure that the enemy properties that have been vested in the Custodian remain so and do not revert to the enemy subject or enemy firm.