Depriving right to ownership: India initiates auction of vacant properties owned by Muslims

• The properties were vacated by Muslims who fled India during the wars of 1965 and 1971.
• The most number of vacant properties are in Uttar Pardesh while the second highest number of properties are in West Bengal that equals to 2,735.
• The auction of properties is expected to generate revenue of approximately one trillion Indian rupees.

(Karachi) In a recent development, Indian government has initiated the process of auction of properties owned by Muslims, who had fled the country during the wars of 1965 and 1971 that took place between India and Pakistan, BBC Urdu reported on Thursday.

The Indian government considers the said assets as those of its 'enemies' and had started the first round of the auction process.

According to the statistics of the India’s home department, the most number of vacant properties belonging to Muslims are in Uttar Pardesh while the second highest number of properties are in West Bengal that equals to 2,735.

The auction of the properties is expected to generate revenue of approximately one trillion Indian rupees.

As part of the procedure, a list of vacant properties in West Bengal will be prepared and auctioned. Similarly, the process will be repeated in other states of the country.

Three years ago, the Indian Parliament had made amendments in its law and had curtailed the rights of ownership of the properties belonging to the Muslim community.

The new legislation allows only two months time for the heirs to claim the ownership of the property. The law has made it difficult for the Muslims to claim ownership again after the passage of the two-month deadline.

Meanwhile, analysts say the Indian government’s move is aimed at discrimination as it considers the Muslims as ‘enemies’ of the state. They say the recent action will deprive thousands of Muslims of their properties worth billions of rupees.