Enemy Properties In UP: Government to Auction After Lease Expiry

The Union government has decided not to renew leases of enemy properties in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand after existing agreements expire, directing authorities to take possession of the properties and subsequently auction them. The Union Home Ministry has instructed officials to ensure that no lease or tenancy involving enemy property is extended beyond its stipulated period. Occupants with valid agreements will be required to vacate once their contracts expire, after which the government will take control of the properties.

Under the Enemy Property Act, enemy properties refer to assets left behind in India by people who migrated to China and Pakistan and acquired citizenship of those countries following the wars of 1965 and 1971. The properties are administered by the Custodian of Enemy Property for India. The latest directions are aimed at bringing such assets under government control and preventing them from remaining under long-term leases or unauthorised occupation without proper action.

Properties that are currently under illegal occupation will be given 15 days to vacate, according to the directions issued to local authorities. Occupants who fail to comply within the stipulated period will face eviction proceedings. The Custodian of Enemy Property for India office in Lucknow has subsequently written to the concerned district magistrates, asking them to implement the Home Ministry’s instructions and take necessary action against occupants.

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Officials said there are around 5,600 enemy properties across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with a significant number either under illegal occupation or leased at rates substantially below their potential market value. The scale of the issue is particularly visible in Lucknow, where several properties are reportedly generating very low rents despite being located in commercially valuable areas. The government’s decision is expected to change how these properties are managed after existing agreements come to an end.

One example is Halwasiya Market in Hazratganj, which covers around 10,000 square metres but currently generates a monthly rent of only Rs 700. Its existing lease is due to expire next year and officials have said it will not be renewed. Other properties are also reportedly operating under low-value leases, including Kohli Brothers, which occupies around 400 square metres and pays Rs 250 per month. Kapoor Hotel pays Rs 8,000 a month, while Tata Group pays Rs 3,000 and Mahatex Handloom pays Rs 2,000 for around 400 square metres.

The government’s move is intended to ensure that enemy properties are brought back under its control and are not indefinitely retained through low-value leases or unauthorised occupation. Once possession is recovered, the properties will be disposed of through auction in accordance with the applicable government process. The policy is expected to affect existing occupants as their leases expire and could significantly alter the management and utilisation of enemy properties across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

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