CHANAKYANATI

ONALLAW UNI
VERSI
TY

APROJECTREPORTON

SUCCESSI
ONTOTHEPROPERTYOFFEMALE
I
NTESTATE

Submi
tt
edTo–
Mrs.
Pooj
aSri
vastava
Resear
chassociat
e

Submi
tt
edBy
–Sajal sanat
an,
Roll
-2149
B.a.
ll.b
 Acknowl
edgement

Iowet
hepr
esentaccompl
i
shmentofmypr
ojectt
othef
acul
tyMr
s.Pooj
a

Sr
ivast
avawhosegui
dancehel
pedmei
mmensel
y;andt
othehel
pext
endedbyt
he

l
i
brar
yst
affwi
thoutwhi
chf
indi
ngbookswoul
dhav
ebeendi
ff
icul
t.

Iwoul
d al
so l
i
ke t
othank ourf
ri
ends who hel
ped us i
mmensel
ywi
th mat
eri
als

t
hroughoutt
hepr
ojectandwi
thoutwhom wewoul
dnothav
ebeenabl
etocompl
etei
tin

t
hepr
esentwayandt
omyseni
orswhosecont
ri
but
ioni
nev
eryl
i
ttl
ewayhashel
pedme

i
nthecompl
eti
onoft
hispr
oject
.Iwoul
dal
sol
i
ket
oext
endmygr
ati
tudet
oal
lthose

unseenhandst
hathel
pedmeoutatev
eryst
ageoft
hispr
oject
.

Saj
alsanat
an
2149.
 I
ndex
 I
ntr
oduct
ion
 Woman’
sPr
oper
ty
 St
ri
dhanandWoman’
sEst
ate
 Enumer
ati
onofwoman’
spr
oper
ty
 Successi
ont
othepr
oper
tyofaf
emal
eInt
est
ate
 Sect
ion15appl
icabl
etoabsol
utepr
oper
tyoff
emal
e
 Seper
ateschemef
orsuccessi
onofmal
eandf
emal
eint
est
ate
 Schemeofsuccessi
on
 Successi
ont
ogener
alpr
oper
ty
 Pr
oper
tyI
nher
it
edf
rom f
ather
 Anal
ysi
soft
hedeci
sionofDhani
sthaKal
it
avRmakant
aKal
it
a
 Pr
event
ingt
hepr
oper
tygoi
ngbydoct
ri
neofescheat
 Const
it
uti
onalval
idi
tyofsect
ion15
 Speci
alr
ulesf
orf
emal
egover
enedbyMar
umakkat
tay
am andAl
iyasant
anal
l
aws
 Concl
usi
on
 Bi
bli
ogr
aphy
AI
MSANDOBJECTI
VES:

I
tist
heai
m oft
hispr
ojectt
opr
ovi
deanexhaust
iveanal
ysi
soft
hemaj
ori
ssues
r
egar
ding t
he i
mpor
tance and si
gni
fi
cance ofLaws r
elat
ing t
o successi
on t
othe
pr
oper
tyofHi
nduf
emal
e.

SCOPEANDLI
MITATI
ON:
Thi
spr
ojectwi
l
lat
temptt
oleav
ether
eaderwi
thacl
eari
deaoft
hepr
esentscenar
io
ofsuccessi
onl
aws,
alongwi
tht
hemaj
orpr
ecedent
slai
ddown.

HYPOTHESI
S:

1)Whet
herchangesboughtbyt
hehi
ndusuccessi
onact1956 i
nfeaml
eint
est
ate
wasf
rui
tf
ulornot.
2)Const
it
uti
onal
val
i
dit
yofsec15ofHi
ndusuccessi
onact1956

STYLE:
Thewr
it
ingst
ylei
sbot
hanal
yti
cal
anddescr
ipt
ive.

CI
TATI
ONS:
Auni
for
m met
hodofci
tat
ionshasbeenused.
I
nt
roduct
ion

TheI
ndi
anci
vi
li
zat
ioni
soneoft
heol
destci
vi
li
zat
ionsi
nthewor
ldandt
heHi
ndusf
orm
t
hemaj
ori
tyoft
hisci
vi
li
zat
ion.Tr
yingt
otr
acet
heor
igi
nalsour
ceoft
hisr
eli
gioni
s
di
ff
icul
tast
hismeansgoi
ngbackt
othet
imewhenwr
it
tenmat
eri
alwasunav
ail
abl
e
andmostoft
hecommuni
cat
ionwasor
al.Ther
ewasnodi
sti
nct
ionbet
weenr
eli
gion,
l
awandmor
ali
tydur
ingt
heear
lyday
s,andt
heywer
eref
err
edcumul
ati
vel
yas‘
Dhar
ma’
.
TheHi
nduSuccessi
onActcamei
ntof
orceon17t
hJune,1956,wi
thanobj
ect
iveof
pr
ovi
dingacompr
ehensi
veanduni
for
m schemeofi
ntest
atesuccessi
onf
orHi
ndus.
Pr
iort
o 1956,di
ff
erentcommuni
ti
es wi
thi
nthe Hi
ndu r
eli
gion wer
e gov
erned by
di
ff
erentsuccessi
onl
aws.Ther
ewer
ethr
eemaj
orcat
egor
ies,
besi
dest
heco-
exi
stence
ofanumberofsub-
communi
ti
es,t
heMi
takshar
aSchool
,theDay
abhagaSchooland
t
hoseadher
ingt
othemat
ri
archalsy
stem wer
esubj
ectt
odi
ff
erentl
aws.Besi
dest
hese
t
he Mi
takshar
a sub-
school
s had r
egi
onalv
ari
ati
ons.Mor
eov
er,a numberoft
ri
bal
communi
ti
esf
oll
owi
ngHi
ndur
eli
gionobser
vedt
hei
rowndi
sti
nctr
ulesofsuccessi
on.
Ami
dstt
hismaze,i
twasi
mpor
tantandnecessar
yforauni
for
mlaw t
hatcoul
dbe
appl
i
cabl
eandmor
eimpor
tant
lyaccept
edbyt
hedi
ver
sepopul
ati
onf
oll
owi
ngHi
ndu
r
eli
gion.
Al
so,
int
hel
att
erhal
foft
heni
net
eent
hcent
ury
,ther
ewasast
rongest
abl
i
shmentoft
he
j
udi
cialsy
stem.Thecour
tset
tl
edcont
rov
ersi
ali
ssuesr
elat
edt
otheper
sonall
awsand
passedl
awsandt
hesel
awswer
etobeappl
i
ednotj
ustt
othepar
ti
esbutt
otheent
ir
e
communi
ti
esal
so.Besi
dest
his,
sev
erall
egi
slat
ionswer
eenact
edwi
thanai
mtomodi
fy
andr
efor
m al
lper
sonall
aws,
incl
udi
ngt
heHi
ndus’
.Theco-
exi
stenceoft
ext
ualShast
ri
c
Laws,sev
erall
egi
sl
ati
ons,i
nnumer
abl
ecust
omsandconf
li
cti
ngj
udi
cialpr
ecedent
s
pr
esent
edaconf
usi
nghazeofl
awsnecessi
tat
ingcl
ari
tyandcer
tai
ntyandonl
ysol
uti
on
i
nhandwascodi
fi
cat
ion.
Successi
ont
othepr
oper
tyofaHi
ndui
snowgov
ernedbyt
hepr
ovi
sionsi
nChapt
erI
Iof
1
t
heHi
nduSuccessi
onAct
,1956. Sect
ions18t
o28dealwi
tht
hegener
alpr
ovi
sions

1
Hencef
ort
h,TheAct
.
r
elat
ingt
osuccessi
on.Sect
ions23and24oft
heActdeal
i
ngwi
thSpeci
alpr
ovi
sion
r
espect
ingdwel
l
inghousesandCer
tai
nwi
dowsr
emar
ryi
ngmaynoti
nher
itaswi
dows
r
espect
ivel
yhav
ebeenomi
tt
edbyt
heHi
nduSuccessi
on(
Amendment
)Act
,2005(
39of
2005)Sect
ion4&5r
espect
ivel
y(w.
e.f9-
9-2005)
.Ther
ulesl
aiddowni
nSect
ions18t
o
28ar
esuppl
ement
aryt
otheonesl
aiddowni
nSect
ions5t
o17.Theser
uleshowev
er,
ar
enotmer
elyexpl
anat
ory
,butsomeoft
hem l
aydownsubst
ant
iver
ulesi
nvol
vi
ngl
egal
pr
inci
ples.

WOMAN’
SPROPERTY

Sect
ion14,Hi
nduSuccessi
onAct
,1956,hasi
ntr
oducedf
undament
alchangesi
nthe
Hi
ndul
awofwoman'
spr
oper
ty.Bef
ore1956,
thepr
oper
tyofwomanwasdi
videdi
nto
t
woheads:(
a)st
ri
dhan,and(
b)woman'
sest
ate.TheHi
nduWoman'
sRi
ghtt
o
Pr
oper
tyAct
,1937 conf
err
ed some new r
ight
sofi
nher
it
ance on cer
tai
n Hi
ndu
f
emal
eswhi
chhadt
heef
fectofi
ncr
easi
ngt
hebul
kofwoman'
sest
ate,butapar
t
f
rom i
tssi
der
eper
cussi
onsont
hej
oinsf
ami
lypr
oper
ty,i
tdi
dnotal
tert
hebasi
c
di
vi
sionofwoman'
spr
oper
tyi
nsst
ri
dhanandwoman'
sest
ate.Sect
ion14,Hi
ndu
Successi
onAct
,1956haiabol
ishedwoman'
sest
ateandhasvi
rt
ual
lyi
ntr
oduced
Vi
jnaneshwar
a*i
nter
pret
ati
onofSt
rdhan2.
i

STRI
DHANANDWOMAN'
SESTATE
Li
ter
all
y,t
hewor
dSt
ridhanmeanswoman'
spr
oper
ty.Buti
nHi
ndu l
awi
thas,al
l
al
ong,beengi
venat
echni
calmeani
ng.I
ntheent
ireofHi
ndul
aw,woman'
sri
ght
t
ohol
d anddi
sposeofpr
oper
tyhasr
ecogni
zed.Atnot
imewhet
herasamai
den,
wi
feorwi
dow,hast
hebeendeni
edt
heuseofherpr
oper
tyasanabsol
uteowner
3
(
apar
tfr
om t
hehusband'
sdomi
nantposi
ti
oni
nrespectofcer
tai
nty
peofst
ri
dhan).
I
tissu-
truet
hatatno t
imet
hequant
um ofherpr
oper
tyhasbeenanyt
hing
2
Mi
takshar
a,I
I,i
x,2
3
Mi
takshar
a,I
I,i
x,2
meagr
e.The Smr
it
ikar
s di
fferf
rom each ot
heras t
o whati
tems ofpr
oper
ty
const
it
uteherst
rdhan4.Goor
i oodassBaner
jeever
yapt
lysai
d:
The di
ff
icul
ti
es beset
ti
ng an enqui
ryi
ntot
he quest
ion whatconst
it
utes
st
ri
dhan,ar
isef
rom t
hef
actt
hatmaj
ori
tyofsagesandcomment
ator
sgi
venei
ther
an exactdef
ini
ti
on ofst
ri
dhan,noran exhaust
ive enumer
ati
on,and i
fthe
Mi
takshar
agi
vesasi
mpl
eand i
ntel
li
gibl
edef
ini
ti
on,t
hatdef
ini
ton Z-
i 3LS been
qual
if
ied and r
est
ri
cted i
nit
sappl
icat
ion byourcour
ts,i
nronsequenceofi
ts
5
di
sagr
eementwi
tht
hevi
ewofot
heraut
hor
it
ies.
Accor
dingt
otheSmr
it
ikar
s,t
hest
ri
dhanconst
it
utedt
hosepr
oper
ti
eswhi
ch
sher
ecei
vedbywayofgi
ftf
rom r
elat
ionswhi
chi
ncl
udedmost
lymovabl
epr
oper
ty
(
thoughsomet
imesahouseorapi
eceofl
andwasal
sogi
veni
ngi
ft
),suchas
or
nament
s,j
ewel
ler
yanddr
esses.Thegi
ftmadet
oherbyst
ranger
satt
het
imeof
t
hecer
emonyofmar
ri
age(
bef
oret
henupt
ialf
ir
e),oratt
het
imeofbr
idalpr
ocessi
on
al
soconst
it
utedherst
ri
dhan.Amongt
heComment
ator
sandDi
gest
-wr
it
ers,
ther
eisa
di
ver
genceofopi
nionast
owhati
temsofpr
oper
tyconst
it
utest
ri
dhanandwhatdo
not
.Vi
jnaneshwar
acomment
ingont
hewor
ds"
andt
hel
ike"i
nYaj
nav
alky
a'st
ext
expandedt ngofst
hemeani ridhanbyi
ncl
udi
ngpr
oper
tiesobt
ainedbyi
nher
itance,
pur
chase,par
ti
ti
on,sei
zur
eandf
indi
ng.(
Thi
sexpansi
onwasnotaccept
edbyt
he
Pr
ivyCounci
lwhi
chr
esul
tedi
ntheemer
genceoft
heconceptofwoman'
sest
ate)
.
Ji
mut
vahanagaveadi
ffer
entenumer
atonofst
i ri
dhan,
sodi
dthesub-
school
soft
he

1.4 At
extofManut
hatawi
fe,asonandasl
avecanhavenopr
oper
tyandt
hai;
weal
tht
hey
acqui
rebel
ongst
otheper
sont
owhom t
heybel
ong,i
sof
tenquot
edshowt
hatHi
ndul
awdi
d
notr
ecogni
zeanyr
ightofpr
oper
tyofwoman(
VII
I.]ButManuhi
msel
frecogni
zessever
al
cat
egor
ies of St
ridhan.Manu Smr
iti
,DL enumer
ates si
x ki
nds of St
ridhan.Vi
shnu
enumer
atedf
ourki
ndsofst
ridhan18)(
Kat
yayanat
houghenumer
atessi
xki
ndsofst
ridhan,
hi
senumer
ati
oni
sfr
om Manu'
s(quot
edbyt
heDayabhagaI
V,I
,19)
.Accor
dingt
oYaj
naval
kya
wasgi
vent
oawomanbyt
hef
ather
,mot
her
,herhusbandorherbr
otherorbyheratnupt
ial
f
ireorpr
esent
edonhersuper
sessi
onandt
hel
ikei
sdenomi
oawoman'
spr
oper
ty.
"(Ya,I
I,
143)
.Thewor
ds"
andt
hel
ike"shoul
dbenot
ed,as,anAbasi
s oft
hese wor
ds,Vi
jnaneshwar
a
enl
arged t
he meani
ng ofst
ri
dhan. Gaot
MB(
XXVI
II
,24-
26)expl
ici
tl
yrecogni
singwoman'
s
r
ightt
ohol
danddi
sposeofpr
oper
ty.

5
Hi
nduLawofMar
riageandSt
ridhan,(
3rdEd.
),280.
Mi
takshar
a.
Whet
hert
hepr
oper
t sst
yi ri
dhanorwoman'
sest
ate,most
lydependsupont
he
sour
cef
rom whi
chi
thasbeenobt
ained.

Enumer
ati
onofwoman'
spr
oper
ty

1. Gi
ftandbequest
sfr
om,
rel
ati
on.
—Fr
om t
heear
lyt
imet
hishasbeen
ar
ecogni
zedheadoft
hest
ri
dhan.Suchgi
ft
smaybemadet
owoman,dur
ing
mai
denhood,
cover
tur
eorwi
dowhood,
byherpar
ent
sandt
hei
rrel
ati
ons,
orby
t
hehusbandandhi
srel
ati
ons.Suchgi
ft
smaybemadei
ntervi
vosorbywi
ll
.
TheDay
abhagaschooldoesnotr
ecogni
zegi
ft
sofi
mmovabl
epr
oper
tyby
husbandasst
ridhan.Thepr
oper
tycomi
ngundert
hisheadwast
echni
cal
ly
knownasst
rdhan6.
i
2. Gi
ftsandbequest
sfr
om st
ranger
s.—Pr
oper
tygi
venbygi
fti
nter
vi
vosorbywi
llbyt
ranger
s(i
.e.
,ot
hert
hanr
elat
ions)t
oawoman,dur
ing
mai
denhood orwi
dowhood,const
it
utes her st
ri
dhan. The same i
sthe
posi
ti
onofgi
ftsgi
vent
oawomanbyst
ranger
sbef
oret
henupt
ialf
ireorat
t
hebr
idalpr
ocessi
on.Pr
oper
tygi
vent
oawomanbyagi
fti
ntervi
vosor
bequeat
hedt
oherbyst
ranger
sdur
ingcover
tur
eisst
ri
dhanaccor
dingt
othe
Bombay,t
heBenar
esandt
heMadr
asschool
s,butnotaccor
dingt
othe
Mi
thi
laandt
heDay
abhagaschool
s.Theposi
ti
onbef
ore1956wast
hatt
he
gi
ft
srecei
vedf
rom st
ranger
sdur
ingcover
tur
ewer
est
ri
dhan,butt
hesewer
e
dur
ingherhusband'
sli
fet
imeundert
hehusband'
scont
rol
.Onhi
sdeat
h
t
hesebecameherf
ullf
ledgedst
ri
dhan.
3. Pr
oper
tyacqui
redbysel
f-
exer
ti
onandmechani
calar
ts.
—Awoman
mayacqui
repr
oper
tyatanyst
ageofherl
if
ebyherownsel
f-
exer
ti
on,
suchas
bymanuall
abour
,byempl
oyment
,bysi
ngi
ng,danci
ng,et
c.,orbyany
mechani
calar
t.Accor
dingt
oal
lschool
sofHi
ndul
aw,t
hepr
oper
tyt
hus

6
Fordet
ail
s,seeBaner
jee,Hi
nduLawofMar
riageandSt
ridhan,321
 acqui
reddur
ingwi
dowhoodormai
denhoodi
sherst
ri
dhan.Butt
hepr
oper
ty
t
husacqui
reddur
ingcover
tur
edoesnotconst
it
uteherst
ri
dhanaccor
dingt
o
t
heMi
thi
laandBengalschool
s,butaccor
dingt
orestoft
heschool
siti
s
st
ri
dhan.Agai
n,dur
ingt
hehusband'
sli
fe-
ti
mei
tissubj
ectt
ohi
scont
rol
.
4. Pr
oper
typur
chasedwi
thst
ri
dhan.
—Inal
lschool
sofHi
ndul
aw,
iti
s
awel
lset
tledl
aw t
hatt
hepr
oper
tiespur
chasedwi
thst
ridhan,orwi
tht
he
savi
ngsofst
ri
dhan,aswel
lasal
laccumul
ati
onsandsavi
ngsoft
hei
ncomeof
st
ri
dhan,
const
it
utest
ri
dhan.

5. Pr
oper
ty acqui
red by compr
omi
se.
— When a per
son acqui
res
pr
oper
tyunderacompr
omi
se,whatest
atehewi
llt
akei
nit
,dependsupont
he
compr
omi
sedeed.I
nHi
ndul
aw t
her
eisnopr
esumpt
iont
hatawomanwho
obt
ainspr
oper
tyunderacompr
omi
set
akesi
tas al
imi
tedest
ate.Pr
oper
ty
obt
ained bya woman undera compr
omi
se wher
eundershe gi
vesup her
r
ight
stoherst
ridhanwi
llbest
ridhan.Whensheobt
ainssomepr
oper
ty
underaf
ami
lyar
rangement
,whet
hershe get
s asst
ridhan orwoman'
s
est
atewi
lldependupont
het
ermsoft
hef
ami
lyar
rangement
.
6. Pr
oper
tyobt
ainedbyadver
sepossessi
on.
—Inal
lschool
sofHi
ndu
l
aw,i
tisaset
tl
edl
awt
hatanypr
oper
tyt
hatawomanacqui
resatanyst
ageof
herl
if
ebyadver
sepossessi
oni
sherst
ri
dhan.
7. Pr
oper
tyobt
ainedi
nli
euofmai
ntenance.
—Underal
lschool
sof
Hi
ndu l
aw, t
he pay
ment
s made t
o a Hi
ndu f
emal
e i
n l
ump sum or
per
iodi
cal
lyf
orhermai
ntenance,andal
lthear
rear
sofsuchmai
ntenance
const
itut
eherst
ridhan.Si
mil
arl
y, al
lmovabl
eand i
mmovabl
epr
oper
ties
t
ransf
err
ed t
o her by way ofan absol
ute gi
fti
nli
eu ofmai
ntenance
const
it
uteherst
ri
dhan.
8. Pr
oper
ty obt
ainedby i
nher
it
ance.
—A Hi
nduf
emal
e mayi
nher
it
pr
oper
tyf
rom amal
e,oraf
emal
e.Shemayi
nher
iti
tfr
om herpar
ent
'ssi
deor
f
rom husband'
s si
de.The Mi
takshar
a consi
der
ed al
linher
it
ed pr
oper
tyas
st
ridhan.Butt
hePr
ivyCounci
linaser
iesofdeci
sionshel
dsuchpr
oper
tyas
woman'
sest
ate.I
nonesetofcases,t
hePr
ivyCounci
lhel
dthatpr
oper
ty
 i
nher
itedbyaf
emal
efr
om mal
es,i
snotherst
ridhanbutwoman'
sest
ate7.I
n
anot
hersetofcases,
itt
ookt
hesamev
iewi
nrespectofpr
oper
tyi
nher
it
edf
rom
8
t
hef
emal
es.Thi
sist
hel
aw i
nal
ltheschool
sexceptt
heBombayschool.
Accor
ding t
othe Bombayschool
,the pr
oper
tyi
nher
it
ed bya woman f
rom
f
emal
es,i
sherst
rdhan9.Ast
i othepr
oper
tyi
nher
it
edf
rom amal
e,t
hef
emal
e
hei
rsar
edi
videdi
ntot
wo:(
a)t
hosewhoar
eint
roducedi
ntot
he
f
ather
'sgot
rabymar
riage,suchasi
ntest
ate'
swi
dow,mot
her
,et
c.,and(
b)
t
hosewhoar
ebor
nint
hef
ami
ly,suchasdaught
ers, si
ster
s,br
other
's
daught
ers,et
c.I
nthel
att
ercaset
hei
nher
it
edpr
oper
tyi
sst
ri
dhan,whi
lei
nthe
f
ormercasei
tiswoman'
sest
ate.Af
tert
hecomi
ngi
ntof
orceoft
heHi
ndu
Successi
onAct
,1956,
shet
akesal
linher
it
edpr
oper
tyasherst
ri
dhan.
9. Shar
eobt
ainedonpar
ti
ti
on—Whenapar
ti
ti
ont
akespl
ace,
except
i
n Madr
as, f
ather
's wi
fe, (
not i
nthe Day
abhaga school
) mot
her and
gr
andmot
hert
akeashar
eint
hej
ointf
ami
lypr
oper
ty.I
ntheMi
takshar
a
10
j
uri
sdi
cti
on, i
ncl
udi
ng Bombay and t
he Day
abhaga school
,iti
s an
est
abl
ishedvi
ew t
hatt
heshar
eobt
ainedonpar
tit
ioni
snotst
ridhanbut
Woman’
sest
ate.Thi
spr
oper
tyi
sal
sonow herabsol
utepr
oper
tyor
st
ri
dganaf
tert
hecomi
ngi
ntof
orceoft
heHi
nduSuccessi
onAct
,1956.

7
Bhagwandeenv
.May
aBaee,
(1867)11M.
A.I
.487;ThakurDay
heev
.RajBal
ukRam (
1966)
11M.
I.
A.140.
8
SheoShankerv.DeviSaha,(
1903)25Al
l.468;SheoPar
tapv.TheAl
lahabadBank,
(
1903)30I
.A.209;
Seeal
soGay
adi
nv.Badr
iSi
ngh,
(1943)Al
l.230.
9
Kasser
baiv.Hunsr
aj,
(1906)30Bom.431;
Gangadharv
. Chandr
abhagabai(
1893)17Bom.
690(
F.B.
).
10
TheVy avaharaMayukhatakestheviewthatsuchpr
opert
yisstri
dhan,
butthePri
vy
Counci
l'
legisl
ated'
andheldthatsuchproper
tyiswoman'
ses t
ate;
DeviMangalPr
asadv.
Mahadeo,(1919)39I.
A.121.
SUCCESSI
ONTOTHEPROPERTYOFAFEMALEI
NTESTATE

Sect
ion15i
sthef
ir
stst
atut
oryenact
mentdeal
i
ngwi
thsuccessi
ont
othepr
oper
tyofa
Hi
nduf
emal
eint
est
ate.Pr
iort
o1956,
thepr
oper
tyofawomanwentaccor
dingt
other
ules
pr
ovi
dedundert
heuncodi
fi
edHi aw11.I
ndul nmaj
ori
tyofcases,herl
i
mit
ed i
nter
est
t
ermi
nat
edi
ntheev
entofherdeat
handt
her
efor
e,t
hequest
ionofsuccessi
ont
oher
pr
oper
tydi
dnotar
ise.Theef
for
tsont
hepar
toft
hel
egi
sl
atur
ewer
eai
medmor
etowar
ds
secur
inghermai
ntenanceandpr
oper
tyr
ight
s,r
athert
hant
owar
dspr
ovi
dingaschemeof
successi
ont
oherpr
oper
ty,aspr
oper
tyowner
shi
pinabsol
utecapaci
tybyaf
emal
e,
wasar
ari
tyandhergener
alandcompl
eteeconomi
cdependence,ar
ule.Thet
wo
st
atut
est
hatwer
eenact
edt
oimpr
oveherc
ondi
ti
onsofl
i
fe,v
iz,t
heHi
nduLaw of
I
nher
it
anc
e(Amendment
)Ac
t1929,
andt
heHi
nduWomen'
sRi
ghtt
oPr
oper
tyAct1937,
concent
rat
edons
ecur
ingherr
ight
s,r
athert
hanonf
ocus
ingonwho,af
terher
,wi
l
lbe
el
i
gibl
etot
akeherpr
oper
ty.Thes
est
atut
est
hus
,deal
twi
ths
ucc
ess
iont
othepr
oper
tyofa
Hi
ndumal
eint
est
ateandsecur
ingt
her
ight
soft
hewi
dow i
ncasehedi
edasan
undi
vi
dedmemberofaMi
takshar
acopar
cenar
y,hav
ingatt
het
imeofhi
sdeat
h,an
i
nter
esti
nit
.

SCTI
ON15APPLI
CABLETOTHEABSOLUTEPROPERTYOFAFEMAL
E

Thesect
ionappl
i
est
o:

(
i)Pr
oper
tyt
hatawomanhol
dsasanabsol
uteowner
,ir
respect
iveoft
hemodeof
i
tsacqui
sit
ion.I
twoul
dincl
udemov
abl
eori
mmov
abl
epr
oper
ti
es,butwoul
d

11
Wi
thr
espectt
othest
ridhanpr
oper
tyofaf
emal
eHi
ndu,separ
ater
ulessuccessi
onwer
e
pr
ovi
dedunderdi
ff
erentschool
sofHi
ndul
aw.Successi
onat
acv
ari
eddependi
ngupont
he
char
act
eroft
hest
ri
dhan,
hermar
it
alst
atusand1*
»*f
orm ofmar
ri
age.Al
lthesedi
ff
erentr
ules
ar
eabr
ogat
ednow andi
fthepr
oper
-what
evermaybet
hechar
act
er,i
shel
dbyawoman
absol
utel
y,i
ssubj
ectt
oir
-rul
esofss15and16oft
heAct
.
 12
noti
ncl
udeanypr
oper
tyt
owhi
cht
heActdoesnotappl
y .
(
ii
)The t
erm '
proper
ty'woul
dincl
ude an undi
vi
ded i
nter
esti
n a Mi
takshar
a
copar
cenar
yinwhi
chaf
emal
ewasacopar
cenerwhodi
esl
eav
ingbehi
ndher
13
son,daught
er,orchi
l
drenofapr
edeceasedsonand/
ordaught
er .
Thi
srul
eis
appl
i
cabl
einf
ourI
ndi
anst
ates,
viz
,Andhr
aPr
adesh,
Tami
lNadu,
Kar
nat
akaand
Mahar
asht
ra.
Thi
ssec
tionandt
hes
chemeofs
ucc
ess
ionar
enotappl
i
cabl
etoanypr
oper
tyt
hati
shel
d
byaHi
nduwomanasal
i
mit
edownerei
therunders14(
2)oft
heAct
,orev
enot
her
wise14.
Thepr
oper
tyi
nwhi
chsheacqui
redal
i
mit
edowner
shi
ptobegi
nwi
th,whi
chmat
ured
15
i
ntoanabsol
uteowner
shi
pduet
os14(
1),
wil
lbegov
ernedbyt
hepr
ovi
si
onsoft
hisAc
t .
Ther
ulei
sthatonl
ythatpr
oper
tywi
l
lbesubj
ectt
otheappl
i
cat
ionoft
hesesect
ions,
16
whi
char
eher
it
abl
eandov
erwhi
chawomanhadf
ull
power
sofdi
sposal
.

SEPARATE SCHEMES OF SUCCESSI

ON FOR MALE AND FEMALE
I
NTESTATES

Auni
quef
eat
ureoft
heHi
nduSuccessi
onAct1956,t
houghnotahappyone,i
sthati
t
pr
ovi
desf
ort
woent
ir
elydi
ff
erentschemesofsuccessi
on,basedont
hesexoft
he
i
ntest
ate.Noot
hermaj
orsuccessi
onl
awi
nvoguei
nIndi
a,hasapr
ovi
sionpar
all
elt
othi
s
andt
heyl
aydownoneschemeandonesetofhei
rsf
oral
li
ntest
ates.Ther
easonf
ornot

12
Seet
heHi
nduSuccessi
onAct1956,ss4(
2)and 5.
13
Seet
heAndhr
aPr
adesh(
HinduSuccessi
onAmendmentAct1986)
,s29A(
ii
);t
heTami
lNadu
Hi
ndu Successi
on Amendment Act 1990,s 29A(
ii)
;the Kar
nat
aka Hi
ndu Successi
on
AmendmentAct1994,s29A(
ii
);andt
heMahar
asht
raHi
nduSuccessi
onAmendmentAct1994,
s29A(
ii
).
14
Somai
ahvRat
tammaAI
R1959AP244;I
nduBaivVyankat
iAI
R1966Bom 64;RenukaBal
av
Aswi
nKumarAI BaiKaml
R1961Pat498; avChaganLaiAI
R1965Guj
84.
15
MunuswamivRaj
ammalAI
R1977Mad.228;Mani
kyammavVenkat
asubbaRao(
1978)1Andh
LT274;PasmanivPat
raBal
aAI
R1981Gau42;MahadevappavGur
ammaAI
R1973Mys142;
Har
jesavLaxmanAI
R1979Guj45.
16
Aj
ibSi
nghv Ram Si
nghAI
R1959J&K92(
FB)
.
pr
ovi
dingauni
for
m schemeunderHi
ndul
aw,i
sli
nkedcl
osel
ytot
heemphasi
son
t
hec
ons
erv
ati
onandpr
otec
tionoft
hepr
oper
tyi
nthef
ami
l
y.Theol
dconc
eptofst
ri
dhan
i
sst
il
lver
yev
identi
fwel
ookatt
hecont
entofss15and16.Awomanundert
he
pat
ri
archalset
upi
svi
sual
i
sedashav
ingnoper
manentf
ami
l
yofherown.Shei
sbor
nin
herf
ather
'
sfami
l
y,andr
emai
nst
her
eti
l
lsheget
smar
ri
ed,wher
eupon,shej
oinsher
husband'
sfami
l
y.Herst
ayi
n none oft
hese f
ami
l
ies i
s per
manent
.Ev
en i
n her
husband'
sfami
l
y,i
ntheev
entofamar
it
albr
eak
upduet
othedeat
hoft
hehusbandor
ev
endi
vor
ce,
shecanr
emar
ryandmov
eoutoft
hisf
ami
l
yandj
oint
hesecondhusband.
I
ncont
rast
,thehusband'
sfami
l
ydoesnotchangewi
thhi
smar
ri
age.Theabi
l
it
yoft
he
womant
omov
eandc
arr
ythepr
oper
tywi
thher
,awayf
rom t
hef
ami
l
yfr
om whos
e
member
sshehadi
nher
it
edi
t,i
sgi
venpr
imar
yimpor
tanc
eunderHi
ndul
aw,buti
snot
t
reat
ed asofanyconsequenceundert
hei
nher
it
ancel
awsappl
i
cabl
eto women
bel
ongi
ngt
otheot
herr
eli
giouscommuni
ti
es.I
tappear
ssur
pri
singt
hatt
hepat
ri
archal
setupi
sfol
l
owedbyal
lIndi
anf
ami
l
ies(
except
ingt
hemat
ri
li
nealsoci
eti
es)
,ir
respect
ive
oft
hei
rrel
i
gion,
yetnoneoft
heot
hersuccessi
onl
awspr
ovi
def
orsepar
ateschemesf
or
mal
eandf
emal
eint
est
ates.Acl
oserl
ookatss15and16al
sor
eveal
sthatnotonl
yisa
separ
ateschemeofsuccessi
onpr
ovi
dedi
ncaseofaf
emal
eint
est
ate,t
her
eisf
urt
her
di
ver
gencel
i
nkedwi
tht
hesour
ceofacqui
si
ti
onoft
hepr
oper
tyandonconsi
der
ati
ons
ofhermar
it
alst
atus,andf
act
orsl
i
kewhet
hershedi
edl
eav
ingbehi
ndchi
l
drenor
i
ssuel
ess.Wi
th
r
espectt
othecat
egor
isat
ionofhei
rs,
incaseofamar
ri
edwoman,
herbl
oodr
elat
ionsar
e
r
elegat
edt
oav
eryi
nfer
iorpl
acementi
ncompar
isont
otheent
ir
ecat
egor
yoft
hehei
rsof
herhusband
SCHEMEOFSUCCESSI
ON

TheActpr
ovi
desf
ort
hreedi
ff
erentset
sofhei
rsdependi
ngupont
hesour
ceofac
qui
si
ti
on
oft
hepr
oper
tyofaf
emal
ethati
sav
ail
abl
efors
ucc
ess
ion.
Herpr
oper
tyi
sdi
vi
dedi
nto:
(
1) pr
oper
tyt
hataf
emal
eHi
nduhadi
nher
it
edf
rom herpar
ent
s;
(
2) pr
oper
tyt
hataf
emal
eHi
nduhadi
nher
it
edf
rom herhusbandor
her f
ather
-i
n-l
aw;
or
(
3) anyot
herpr
oper
tyorgener
alpr
oper
ty.

SUCCESSI
ONt
oGener
alPr
oper
ty

Thet
erm'
gener
alpr
oper
ty'
ref
erst
othepr
oper
tyofawomanot
hert
hant
hatwhi
chwas
i
nher
it
ed byherf
rom herpar
ent
s,husband orherf
ather
-i
n-l
aw.The t
erm used i
s
'
i
nher
it
ed'
and'
gener
alpr
oper
ty'
wil
lincl
udet
hepr
oper
tyt
hatshemi
ghthav
erecei
ved
f
rom t
heser
elat
ionst
hroughanyot
herdev
ice,
suchasagi
ft
,Wi
l
loraset
tl
ement
,orev
en
t
hroughat
ransf
erf
orc
ons
ider
ati
on.I
twi
l
lal
soc
overpr
oper
ti
est
hatwer
ehers
elf
-
ac
qui
si
ti
onsorwer
erec
eiv
edf
rom anyot
hers
our
cewhat
soev
er,i
ncl
udi
ngagi
ftr
ecei
ved
f
rom af
ri
endorar
elat
ive,orpr
oper
tyi
nher
it
edf
rom anyot
herr
elat
ion.Pr
oper
tyt
hata
womani
nher
it
sfr
om herbr
other
,int
hecapaci
tyofhi
ssi
ster
,orf
rom herhusband'
s
br
otherashi
sbr
other
'swi
dow,woul
dbehergener
alpr
oper
tyandwoul
dgoundert
his
sect
ion.

Sect
ion15pr
ovi
des:

Gener
alr
ulesofsuccessi
oni
nthecaseoff
emal
eHi
ndus.—(
1)Thepr
oper
tyofaf
emal
e
Hi
ndudy
ingi
ntest
ateshal
ldevol
veaccor
dingt
other
ulessetouti
nSect
ion16—
(
a)f
irst
lyupont
hesonsanddaught
ers(
incl
udi
ngt
hechi
ldr
enofany
pr
edeceasedsonordaught
er)andt
hehusband;
(
b)secondl
y,upont
hehei
rsofherhusband;
(
c)t
hir
dly,
upont
hemot
herandf
ather
;
(
d)f
our
thl
y,upont
hehei
rsoft
hef
ather
;and
 (
e)l
ast
ly,
upont
hehei
rsoft
hemot
her
.

Thehei
rsar
egr
oupedi
ntot
hesef
ivecat
egor
ies,t
hef
ormerexcl
udi
ngt
hel
ater
.So
l
ongasasi
ngl
ehei
rint
hepr
iorcat
egor
yispr
esent
,thepr
oper
tywi
llnotgot
othe
nextcat
egor
y.
The or
igi
nalHi
ndu Successi
on Bi
ll(
Bil
lNo 13)of1954,pr
ovi
ded f
orsi
x
17
separ
atecat
egor
ies. Thehusband'
stur
ntoi
nher
itunderi
t,cameaf
tert
hechi
ldr
en
andgr
andchi
ldr
enoft
hei
ntest
ateandherpar
ent
swer
epr
efer
redt
oherhusband'
s
hei
rs.Theamendedbi
ll(
Bil
lNo13B)of1954,pl
acedt
hehusbandal
ongwi
tht
he
chi
ldr
en,i
nthef
ir
stcat
egor
y,butst
il
lpr
efer
redt
hepar
ent
sofawomant
oher
18
husband'
shei
rs, whoset
urnt
oinher
itcameonl
ywhennoot
herhei
rwaspr
esent
.

(
a) Theschemeundert
heHi
nduSuccessi
onBi
ll(
Bil
l13)of1954wasas
f
oll
ows:

(
i) f
irst
ly upont
hechi
ldr
en,i
ncl
udi
ngt
hechi
ldr
enofanypr
edeceasedson;
(
ii
) secondl
y,upont
hehusband;
(
ii
i) t
hir
dly
,upont
hemot
herandf
ather
;
(
iv) f
our
thl
y,upont
hehei
rsoft
hehusband;
(
v) f
ift
hly
,upont
hehei
rsoft
hemot
her
;and
(
vi) l
ast
ly,
upont
hehei
rsoft
hef
ather
.

17
Gur
bachanSi
nghvKhi
charSi
nghAI
R1971P&H240.

18
29 Raj
eshwar
iDevivLaxmiDevi(
1997)1HLR590(
All
);LachmanSi
nghvKi
rpaSi
nghAI
R1987
SC1616;Gur
nam Si
nghvAysKaurAI
R1977P&H103;Mal
lappaFaki
rappavShi
ppaAI
R1962
s 140;Rama Ananda Pat
My ilv Appa Bhi
ma AI so Ram Kat
R 1969 Bom 205.See al oriv
Pr
akashv
athi1968Al
lLJ484(
wher
eini
twashel
dthatsi
ncet
hesect
ionusest
het
erm'
sonand
daught
er'
andnot'
sonanddaught
er
oft
hedeceased'
,i
twoul
dincl
udet
hechi
l
drenofherhusbandal
so.Thedeci
sion,whi
chdoesnot
l
aydownacor
rectpr
oposi
ti
onofl
aw,wasover
rul
edbyt
heSupr
emeCour
tinLachmanSi
ngh'
s
case,
cit
edabov
e.)
(
b) Theschemeundert
heHi
nduSuccessi
onBi
ll(
Bil
l13B)of1954wasas
f
oll
ows:
(
i) f
ir
stl
y,upont
hesonsanddaught
ers(
incl
udi
ngt
hechi
l
drenofanypr
e-deceasedson
ordaught
er)andt
hehusband;
(
ii
)secondl
y,upont
hemot
herandt
hef
ather
;
(
ii
i)t
hir
dly
,upont
hehei
rsoft
hef
ather
;
(
iv)f
our
thl
y,upont
hehei
rsoft
hemot
her
;and
(
v)l
ast
ly,
upont
hehei
rsoft
hehusband.

Cl
ause(
a) Thi
scl
ausespeci
fi
essev
enhei
rs,
thesons,
daught
ers,
incl
udi
ngchi
l
dren
ofanypr
edeceasedsonanddaught
er,
husband.

SonandDaught
er:Thet
erms'
son'and'
daught
er'woul
dincl
udeawoman'
s
bi
ologi
caloradopt
ed,l
egi
ti
mat
eoreveni
ll
egi
ti
mat
echi
ldr
en,butwoul
dnoti
ncl
udea
st
ep-
sonorast
ep-
daught
er.Themar
italst
atusoft
hemot
herort
heval
idi
tyofher
mar
riagei
sofnoconsequence.Thesonanddaught
ermayhavebeenbor
ntoan
unwedmot
her
,oradopt
edbyasi
ngl
ewoman,orbor
nfr
om di
ff
erenthusbands,yet
t
heywoul
dst
il
l,i
nher
itt
oget
her
.Wher
ethemot
herwasapar
tyt
oavoi
dorvoi
dabl
e
mar
riage t
hat was subsequent
ly annul
led,herchi
ldr
en bor
nto herf
rom t
his
r
elat
ionshi
pwoul
dbel
egi
ti
mat
eandent
itl
edt
oinher
itf
rom her
.Thesonanddaught
er
i
nher
itt
oget
herandt
aket
hepr
oper
tyi
nequalshar
es.
Forexampl
e,asshownaHi
nduwomanW di
esl
eavi
ngbehi
ndasonS,bor
nto
herf
rom herf
ir
stmar
ri
age,whi
ch ended i
n a di
vor
ce.Ther
eupon,she had a
r
elat
ionshi
pwi
thamar
riedman,H2 asar
esul
tofwhi
chshegavebi
rtht
oadaught
er
D.Uponherdeat
h,SandDbot
h,wi
lli
nher
itt
hepr
oper
tyi
nequalshar
es.

H1 W H2
S D
Chi
ldr
enofPr
edeceasedSonandDaught
er:Wher
easonoradaught
er
di
esdur
ingt
hel
if
eti
meoft
hei
rmot
her
,leavi
ngbehi
ndachi
ld,suchchi
ldwi
llbet
he
pr
imar
yhei
randwoul
dinher
ital
ongwi
tht
hel
ivi
ngsonordaught
eroft
hei
ntest
ate,i
f
any.However
,inor
dert
obeel
igi
blef
ori
nher
itance,suchgr
andchi
ldr
enmustbet
he
l
egi
ti
mat
eof
fspr
ingsoft
hei
rpar
ent
s,andbor
noutofaval
idmar
riagebet
ween
t
hem.Si
mil
arl
y,t
hei
rdeceasedpar
ent
sshoul
dal
sobel
egi
ti
mat
eandbor
noutofa
val
idmar
riage.Forexampl
e,asi
ll
ust
rat
edaHi
nduwomanW,get
smar
riedt
oan
al
readymar
riedmanH.Thi
smar
riagei
svoi
daspert
hepr
ovi
sionsoft
heHi
ndu
Mar
ri
ageAct1955.TwosonsStandS2ar
ebor
ntoher
.Dur
ingt
hel
if
eti
meofW,S2 di
es,
l
eavi
ngbehi
ndadaught
erS2D.

H W

S1 S2

S2D

Her
e,Stal
onewi
l
linher
itherpr
oper
ty,
asS2Dwi
l
lnotbedeemedt
ober
elat
edt
oW.The
r
elat
ions
hipi
ncas
eofc
hil
drenbor
nofav
oidandv
oidabl
emar
ri
age,i
spur
elyper
sonal
bet
weent
hepar
ent
sandchi
l
drenandt
heyar
enotdeemedt
ober
elat
edt
oanyot
her
r
elat
iveofei
ther
.Si
mil
arl
y,wher
ethegr
andchi
l
drenwer
ebor
nofav
oidorav
oidabl
e
mar
ri
ageannul
l
edbyt
hecour
t,t
her
eagai
n,t
heywoul
dnotbeel
i
gibl
etoi
nher
itt
he
pr
oper
tyoft
hei
ntes
tat
e.Forex
ampl
e,ass
hown,
aHi
nduwomanAdi
es,
leav
ingbehi
nda
sonS3 andagr
anddaught
erD.HersecondsonS2 hadgotmar
ri
edt
oW2,buthadl
ater
di
scov
eredt
hathi
sconsenthadbeenobt
ainedbyf
raud.Hef
il
edapet
it
ioni
nacour
tof
l
aw,f
orobt
aini
ngadecr
eeofnul
l
ity
.Meanwhi
l
eadaught
er,Dwasbor
n,whohadbeen
concei
vedbef
oret
hedi
scov
eryoft
hef
raudbyS2.Thecour
tdecl
aredt
hemar
ri
agenul
l
andv
oid.S2di
edandDwasbr
oughtupbyA,
hergr
andmot
her
.Now,
Aal
sodi
es.Dwi
l
lnot
beent
it
ledt
oinher
itt
hepr
oper
tyofAaschi
l
drenbor
nofv
oidandv
oidabl
emar
ri
agest
hat
ar
eannul
l
edbyt
hec
our
t,donoti
nher
itt
hepr
oper
tyofanyr
elat
iveoft
hei
rpar
ent
s.
 A

S1 (
S2) W2
D
Chi
ldr
enofapr
edeceasedsonordaught
erwi
llal
sobedi
squal
if
iedf
rom i
nher
iti
ng
t
hepr
oper
tyoft
hei
ntest
ate,i
fbef
oret
hei
rbi
rth,t
hei
rpar
ent(
chi
ld ofA)
,had
ceasedt
obeaHi
ndubyconver
tingt
oanyot
herr
eli
gion.

Husband:Theterm 'husband'referstothespouseofavalidmarriage,which
hadcomet
oanendwi
tht
hedeat
hoft
hei
ntest
ate.I
tdoesnoti
ncl
udeadi
vor
ced
husband,butwoul
dincl
ude a husband who had deser
ted t
he i
ntest
ateorwas
deser
tedbyherorwasl
ivi
ngapar
tfr
om herunderadecr
eeofj
udi
cialsepar
ati
on.The
husband'
simmor
alorevencr
imi
nalconduct
,doesnotst
andi
nhi
swayofi
nher
iti
ng
t
hepr
oper
ty,unl
esshecommi
tshermur
der
.Thehusband,whohadbeenapar
tyt
o
avoi
dmar
riagebet
weenhi
msel
fandt
hei
ntest
ate,doesnoti
nher
itf
rom hi
swi
fe,
butwher
ethemar
riagei
svoi
dabl
e,hei
nher
itseveni
fapet
iti
onpr
ayi
ngf
oradecr
ee
ofnul
li
tymi
ghtbependi
ngi
nthecour
t.Buti
fthemar
riagei
sdecl
aredanul
li
ty,and
t
hewomandi
esaf
tersuchpr
onouncement
,thenhecannoti
nher
itf
rom her

Wi
dowofMal
eDescendant
snotaPr
imar
yHei
r:I
tisi
nter
est
ingt
onot
e
t
hatwhi
leunders8,wi
dowofapr
edeceasedsonandwi
dowoft
hepr
edeceasedson
ofpr
edeceasedsonar
ecl
ass-
Ihei
rsofamal
eint
est
ate,
thes
erel
ati
onsdonoti
nher
itt
he
pr
oper
tyofaf
emal
eint
est
ateasherpr
imar
yhei
rs,
butcani
nher
itundercl(
b),
ashei
rsof
herhusband.
Rul
esf
orCal
cul
ati
onofShar
es
Ont
hedeat
hofaf
emal
eint
est
ate,herpr
oper
tydev
olv
esonherpr
imar
yhei
rs,i
n
accor
dancewi
tht
hef
oll
owi
ngr
ules:

(
i) Eac
hsur
vi
vi
ngs
onanddaught
erandt
hehus
bandt
akesones
har
e,

(
ii
) Wher
easonordaught
erhadpr
edeceasedt
hei
ntest
ate,
buti
s
sur
viv
edbyachi
l
d,hi
s/herbr
anchhast
obeal
l
ott
edashar
e,
(
ii
i) Suchsur
viv
inggr
andchi
l
dtak
est
heshar
eoft
hedeceasedpar
ent
andi
fther
ear
emor
ethanone,
theywi
lldi
videt
hepr
oper
ty
equal
l
yamongt
hemsel
ves.

I
II
ust
rat
ion(
i)

AHi
nduf
emal
eW,
diesandi
ssur
viv
edbyherhusbandH,
twosonsS1andS2anda
daught
erD

(
W) H

S1 S2 D

Thepr
oper
tywi
l
lbedi
vi
dedi
ntof
ourequal
par
ts,
oneeac
hgoi
ngt
oH,
SvS2andD.

I
II
ust
rat
ion(
ii
)

AHi
nduf
emal
eW,di
esandi
ssur
vi
vedbyherhus
bandH,al
i
vings
onS,anunmar
ri
ed
daught
erD,t
wochi
l
drenSjandS2,ofapr
edeceaseddaught
erD2andani
l
legi
ti
mat
eson
S3.

W H

S D (
D2)
S3
 S1 S1

Thepr
oper
tywi
l
lbedi
vi
dedi
ntof
iveequalpar
ts,oneeac
hgoi
ngt
oH,S,DandS3.The
br
anchoft
hedeceaseddaught
erD2,wi
l
lbegi
venone-
fi
ft
h(l
/5t
h)oft
hepr
oper
ty,out
ofwhi
chS7andS2wi
llt
akeone-
tent
h(l
/10t
h)each.Thef
inal
shar
eswi
l
lbeasf
oll
ows:
+ =
S=1/5 (
S1 S)
2 1 /
5
D=1/5 S1= 1/
5x1/
2=1/
10
S3=1/
5 S2= 1/
5x1/
2=1/
10
H=1/
5

Cl
ause(
b):
Hei
rsofHusband
Thesecondcat
egor
ycompr
isest
heent
ir
egr
oupofhei
rsoft
hehusbandofani
ntest
ate,
howsoev
err
emot
etheymaybe.Thi
sgr
oupi
spr
efer
redt
othei
ntest
ate'
sownpar
ent
s,
whoset
urnt
oinher
itcomesonl
ywhennoneoft
hehei
rsoft
hehusbandi
spr
esent
.
Theyi
nher
iti
nabsenceoft
hechi
l
dren,gr
andchi
l
drenandt
hehusbandoft
he
deceased19.
Insuchcases,i
tispr
esumedt
hatt
hepr
oper
tyav
ail
abl
eforsuccessi
on
bel
ongednott
othedeceasedf
emal
e,butt
oherhusband,
andt
hepr
oper
tyi
sdi
str
ibut
edi
n
accor
dancewi
tht
her
ulesl
ai
ddowni
ntheActunderss8-
13,f
orsuccessi
ont
othe
pr
oper
tyofamal
eint
est
ate.Howev
er,t
hedat
eoft
heopeni
ngoft
hesuccessi
oni
snot
t
hedat
eoft
hedeat
hoft
hehusband,butt hedeceased20.Thus,wehav
hatoft eto
pr
esumet
hatont
hedeat
hoft
hei
ntest
ate,i
twasherhusbandwhohaddi
edandt
he
pr
oper
tyal
sobel
ongedt
ohi
m.Forex
ampl
e,aHi
nduwomanW,di
esi
ntes
tat
e,l
eav
ing
behi
ndherst
ep-
sonS(
sonoft
hehusbandbor
ntohi
mfr
om apr
evi
ousmar
ri
age)and
herbr
otherBr
.

H1 W Br

19
SeeDevi
nderKaurvAj
itKumarSandhu(
1995)1HLR147(
P&H)
;Sat
yachar
anvUr
mil
aAI
R1970SC1714.
20
Seet
haLakshmi
ani
malvMut
huvenkat
aramal
yengarAI
R1998SC1692
Si
ncet
hebr
otheri
sanhei
rundercl(
iv)
,thest
ep-
sonal
one,wi
l
lsucceedt
oherpr
oper
ty.
Asnoneoft
hec
l(a)hei
rsi
spr
esent
,itwoul
dbepr
esumedt
hatt
hepr
oper
tybel
ongedt
o
herhusbandandi
nst
eadofher
,iti
shewhohasdi
ed.Hi
ssonwoul
dbehi
spr
imar
yhei
r
andwoul
dinher
ithi
spr
oper
ty.
Whenawomanmar
ri
esmor
ethanonc
e,t
heex
pres
sion'
hei
rsofhus
band'
ref
erst
othe
hei
rsofherl
asthusband.
Hei
rsoft
hehusbandwer
epl
acednextt
othepar
ent
s,i
nthef
our
thcat
egor
y,under
t
heor
igi
nal
HinduSuccessi
onBi
l
l(Bi
l
l13)of1954.Fr
om t
her
e,t
heywer
erel
egat
edt
othe
l
astcat
egor
yint
heamendedBi
l
l,butar
epl
acedev
enbef
oret
hepar
ent
sint
hepr
esent
Act
.

Cl
aus
e(c
): hera
Mot ndFat
her

Themot
herandf
atheroft
hef
emal
eint
est
atear
epl
acedonanequalf
oot
ingher
eand
i
nher
itt
oget
herwhennoneoft
hechi
l
dren,gr
andchi
l
dren,wi
dowerort
heent
ir
egr
oupof
husband'
shei
rsoft
hei
rdaught
er,i
spr
esent
.'Mot
herandf
ather
'woul
dincl
udet
he
bi
ologi
caloradopt
ivepar
ent
s.Wher
ethemar
ri
ageoft
hepar
ent
swasav
oidmar
ri
age
orav
oidabl
emar
ri
aget
hatwassubsequent
lyannul
l
edbyacour
t'
sdecr
ee,
thepar
ent
s
i
nher
itf
rom suchchi
l
dren.Howev
er,wher
ethei
ntest
atewasani
l
legi
ti
mat
echi
l
d,onl
y
t
hemot
herwoul
dinher
it
,andnott
heput
ati
vef
ather
.Thet
erm'
mot
herandf
ather
'does
21
noti
ncl
udeast
epmot
herorast
epf
ather
, butt
heywoul
dnev
ert
hel
essbeent
it
ledt
o
succeed,
thef
ormerasanhei
roft
hef
atherandt
hel
att
er,
asanhei
roft
hemot
her
.

Cl
ause(
d):
Hei
rsoft
heFat
her

Ont
hef
ail
ureoft
hehei
rsspeci
fi
edi
nthef
ir
stt
hreecl
auses,t
hepr
oper
tywi
l
lgot
othe
hei
rsoft
hef
atheroft
hei
ntest
ate.I
nsuchcases,i
twi
l
lbepr
esumedt
hatt
hepr
oper
ty
bel
ongedt
oherf
atherandi
tishewhohaddi
edont
hedat
eofherdeat
h.I
twi
l
lincl
ude
her br
other
s and si
ster
s,i
ncl
udi
ng hal
f-
blood br
other
s and si
ster
s,and t
hei
r
descendant
s,gr
andpar
ent
sandot
hernat
alr
elat
ions.

Ant
21
uavBai
j
nat
hAI
R1974Pat177.
Cl
ause(
e):
Hei
rsoft
heMot
her

Wher
enoneoft
heabov
ement
ionedhei
rsi
spr
esent
,thepr
oper
tywi
l
lgot
othehei
rsof
t
hemot
heroft
hei
ntest
ate.Thi
scat
egor
ywoul
dincl
udet
heut
eri
nebr
otherorsi
sterof
t
hedeceasedandt
hei
rdescendant
s.I
twoul
dbepr
esumedt
hatt
hepr
oper
tybel
ongedt
o
t
hemot
heroft
hei
ntest
ateandherhei
rswi
l
lbeascer
tai
ned.

Pr
oper
tyI
nher
it
edf
rom t
heFat
her

Sect
ion15(
2)pr
ovi
des:

Not
wit
hst
andi
ngany
thi
ngcont
ainedi
nsub-
sect
ion(
l)
,anypr
oper
tyi
nher
it
edbyaf
emal
e
Hi
nduf
rom herf
atherormot
hers
hal
ldev
olv
e,i
ntheabs
enc
eofanys
onordaught
eroft
he
de
ceas
ed(
inc
ludi
ngt
hec
hil
dre
nofanypr
ede
ceas
eds
onordaught
er)notupont
heot
her
he
irsr
efe
rre
dtoi
nsub-
sect
ion(
l)i
ntheor
derspeci
fi
edt
her
einbutupont
hehei
rsofher
f
ather
.

So,
thepr
oper
ty'
i
nher
it
ed'
byaf
emal
efr
om herpar
ent
s,i
nabsenceofheri
ssueort
hei
r
22
chi
l
dren,
wil
lrev
ertt
oherf
ather
'shei
rs. Twot
hingsar
eimpor
tanther
e,v
iz,

(
i)Thet
erm usedbyt
hel
egi
slat
urei
s'i
nher
it
ed'andnotpr
oper
ty'
r
ecei
ved'
23
f
rom t
hepar
ent
s.'
I
nher
it
'meanst
oinher
itasanhei
r. Pr
oper
tyr
ecei
vedby
24 25
t
hedaught
erf
rom hermot
her
,thr
oughaWi
l
l oragi
ft
, woul
dbet
reat
edas
hergener
alpr
oper
tyandnotonet
hati
s'i
nher
it
ed'
.Ifshei
nher
it
spr
oper
ty
f
rom herf
ather
,se
ll
sit
,and outoft
he s
ale pr
oce
eds
,pur
cha
sesa
not
her
26
pr
ope
rty
;t
hispr
oper
tyagai
nwoul
dbehergener
alpr
oper
ty .
(
ii
) Wher
eshedi
esi
ssuel
ess,v
iz,shei
snotsur
viv
edbyachi
l
dort
hechi
l
dof

22
BhagatRam vTej
aSi
ngh(
2002)1HLR17(
SC)
.
23
Ayi
ammalvSubr
amani
aAsar
iAI
R1966Mad369;Kamneshwar
aRaovVasudevaRaoAI
R1972AP
189.
24
Komal
aval
liAmmalvTANKr
ishnamachar
i(1990)106MadLW 598.
25
Aj
it
SinghvSt
ateofPunj
ab1983HLR433(
P&H)
;jaiSi
nghvMughl
a(1967)
ILRPunj658.
26
Veer
aRaghavammavGSubbar
aoAI
R1976AP377.
 suchchi
l
d,butherhusbandi
sal
i
ve,
eveni
nthepr
esenceoft
hehusband,
the
27
pr
oper
tywi
l
lrev
ertt
oherf
ather
'
shei
rs. Ast
ep-
soni
snotani
ssue,and
cannoti
nher
itt
he pr
oper
ty ofa woman t
hatshe i
nher
it
ed f
rom her
28
par
ent
s.
I
nsuchcases,
iti
spr
esumedt
hatupont
hedeat
hoft
hewoman,
herf
atherhaddi
ed,
and
hi
shei
rswi
l
lbeascer
tai
nedaccor
dingl
y.Butt
her
eappear
stobeananomal
yher
e,
whi
chhasbeennot
icedandexpl
ainedbyal
lthewr
it
ersonHi
ndul
aw.I
fawoman
i
nher
it
sthepr
oper
tyf
rom hermot
heranddi
esi
ssuel
essandherf
atheri
sal
iv
e,woul
d
t
hepr
oper
tygot
oherf
atherorhi
shei
rs?Theunani
mousopi
nionseemst
obe
t
hatt
hepr
oper
tywoul
dbet
akenbyt
hef
ather
,andi
tisonl
yinhi
sabsence,
that
i
twoul
dgot
ohi
shei
rs.Wher
eanunmar
ri
edwomani
nher
it
sthepr
oper
tyofher
f
atheranddi
es,herf
ather
'ssi
sterwi
l
lsucceedt
othepr
oper
tyast
hef
ather
's
29 30
hei
r. nBh
I agatSi
nghvTe
jaSi
ngh, t
wos
ist
ersi
nher
it
edt
hepr
oper
tyf
romt
hei
r
mot
her
.Ont
hedeat
hofone,whodi
edasani
ssuel
esswi
dow,
theot
hersi
ster
t
ookt
hepr
oper
tyasher'
fat
her
'shei
r'andent
eredi
ntoanagr
eementt
osel
l
t
hesamet
oaper
sonX.Thedeceasedsi
ster
'shusband'
sbr
otherchal
l
enged
t
hev
ali
dit
yoft
hissal
eandcl
ai
medt
hepr
oper
tyasherhei
runders15(
1)(
b).
TheSupr
emeCour
thel
dthats
incebot
hthec
o ndi
ti
onswer
eful
fi
ll
ed,v
iz,
shehad
i
nher
it
edt
hepr
oper
tyf
rom oneofherpar
ent
s(mot
her
)andhaddi
edi
ssuel
ess,
t
hepr
oper
tywoul
drev
ertt
oherf
ather
'shei
rsi
e,t
hesi
steri
nthi
scaseandt
he
br
otherofherdeceasedhusbandwoul
dnotbeent
it
ledt
osucc
eed.I
nanot
her
31
c
a s
efr
om Del
hi
,anunmar
ri
edf
emal
einher
it
edt
hepr
oper
tyf
rom hermot
her
anddi
edl
eav
ingherbr
otherandawi
dow ofanot
herbr
other
.Thebr
other
cl
ai
medt
het
otalpr
oper
tyont
hegr
oundt
hathewast
hesol
ehei
r.Thecour
t
hel
dthatast
hepr
oper
tyi
stor
ever
ttoherf
atherandwi
l
ldev
o l
veasi
fit
bel
ongedt
othef
ather
,onhi
shei
rs,t
hedeceasedbr
otherwoul
dbet
hesonof

27
Radhi
kavAhgnu(
1996)2HLR344(
SC)
.
28
LachmanSi nghvKir
paSinghAI
R1987SC1616;Janar
dhanBadr
inar
ayanPat
elvAmbal
al
Hi mat
lalAIR1999Guj162
29
ApurtivSunaStreeAIR1963Or
i166
30
AIR2002SC1
31
Yogi
nderPar
kashDuggalvOm Pr
akashDuggal2000AI
HC2905(
Del
).
t
hef
ather
,andanot
herbr
other
'
swi
dow woul
dber
elat
edt
othef
atherast
he
wi
dowofapr
edec
easeds
o n.Thus,
bot
hoft
hem wi
l
linher
itt
hepr
oper
tyasc
lassI
32
hei
rsoft
hef
ather
,i
nequalshar
es.I
nanot
hercase, aHi
nduf
emal
edi
edl
eav
ing
behi
ndherdaught
erf
rom apr
evi
ousmar
ri
ageandt
hesecondhusband,and
pr
oper
tyt
hatshehadi
nher
it
edf
rom herf
ather
.Thehusbandcl
aimedhal
fof
t
hepr
oper
ty,
a shi
sdeceasedwi
fe'
shei
r,butt
hedaught
ercont
endedt
hatsi
nce
t
hepr
oper
tywasi
nher
it
edbyhermot
herf
rom t
hef
ather
,itwoul
dbei
nher
it
ed
onl
ybyheri
ssue(
thati
sher
sel
f)andnotbyt
hehusband.Thel
owercour
t
decr
eedi
nfav
ouroft
hehusband,butt
heSupr
emeCour
tsai
dthatpr
oper
ty
i
nher
it
edbyaf
emal
eHi
nduf
rom '
herf
atherormot
her
,inot
herwor
ds,t
he
f
emal
e'
spat
ernalsi
de'
,i
ntheabsenceofheri
ssue,goesbackt
othehei
rsof
herf
atherandnott
oherhusband.TheCour
thel
dthatsi
ncet
hedeceasedhad
i
nher
it
edt
hepr
oper
tyf
rom herpar
ent
s,herdaught
eral
onewi
l
l beent
it
ledt
o
succeedandt
hehusbandher
e,cannoti
nher
it
.

Pr
oper
tyI
nher
it
edf
rom HusbandorFat
her
-i
n-l
aw

Awomani
nher
it
sthepr
oper
tyofherhusbandonhi
sdemi
se,ashi
swi
dow.Sheal
so
i
nher
it
sfr
om hi
sfat
herast
hewi
dowofhi
spr
edeceasedson,
butpr
ovi
dedshedoesnot
r
emar
rybef
oret
hedat
eoft
heopeni
ngoft
hesuccessi
on.Wher
eshe'
i
nher
it
s't
he
pr
oper
tyofherhusbandorf
ather
-i
n-l
awanddi
esi
ssuel
ess,t
hepr
oper
tyr
ever
tst
oher
husband'
shei
rsf
rom whom orf
rom whos
efat
her
,shehadi
nher
it
edt
hepr
oper
ty.Sec
tion
15(
2)(
b)pr
ovi
des:

Anypr
oper
tyi
nher
it
edbyaf
emal
eHi
nduf
rom herhus
bandorf
rom herf
ather
-i
n-
l
aw,
shal
ldev
olv
e,i
ntheabs
enc
eofanys
onordaught
eroft
hede
ceas
ed(
inc
ludi
ng
t
hec
hil
dre
nofanypr
ede
ceas
eds
onordaught
er)notupont
heot
herhei
rsr
efer
red
t
oins
ub-
sec
tion(
l)i
ntheor
ders
pec
ifi
edt
her
ein,
butupont
hehei
rsoft
hehus
band.
Thust
hepr
oper
tysoi
nher
it
ed,wi
llgot
othehusband'
shei
rs.I
fsher
emar
ri
edaf
ter

32
Radhi
kavAngur
am [
1994]5SCC761
i
nher
it
ingt
hepr
oper
tyf
rom herdeceasedhusbandanddi
edl
eav
ingbehi
ndi
ssues
f
rom hersecondhusband,shehasnotdi
edi
ssuel
essandherchi
l
drenandsecond
husbandwi
l
lsucceedt
othepr
oper
ty.Buti
fshedi
esi
ssuel
ess,t
hesecondhusbandwi
l
l
notgetany
thi
ngandt
hepr
oper
tywi
l
lrev
ertt
othef
ir
sthusband'
shei
rs.Si
mil
arl
y,wher
e
awomani
nher
it
edpr
oper
tyf
rom hersecondhusbandanddi
edl
eav
ingbehi
ndasonf
rom
33
t
hef
ir
sthusband,t
hesonwoul
dtak
ethepr
oper
ty .Si
mil
arl
y,wher
eaHi
nduwi
dow
i
nher
it
edal
i
mit
edest
atef
rom herhusbandanddi
edaf
ter
1956,
wheni
thadmat
uredi
nto
anabsol
uteest
ate,i
twashel
dthatt
hesi
sterofherdeceasedhusbandwoul
dtaket
he
34
pr
oper
ty.

Anal
ysi
ngt
heDeci
si
onof
Dhani
sthaKal
i
tavRamakant
aKal
i
ta35

I
nar
ecentj
udgment
,theGauhat
iHi
ghCour
thasr
uledt
hatf
ort
hepur
pos
esofi
nher
it
ing
t
hepr
oper
tyoft
hemot
her
,whi
chwasi
nher
it
edbyherf
rom herdeceasedhusband,
'
sonanddaught
er'woul
dmeant
hesonanddaught
eroft
hathus
bandf
rom whom or
f
rom whos
efat
her
,shehadi
nher
it
edt
hepr
oper
ty.Her
e,awomandi
edl
eav
ingbehi
nda
sonandadaught
er,bor
ntoherf
rom t
hehusbandwhosepr
oper
tyshehadi
nher
it
ed.
Sheal
sohadasonf
rom apr
evi
ousmar
ri
age.Thecour
thel
dthatt
hesonbor
noft
he
pr
evi
ousmar
ri
age wasnotent
it
led t
o gett
he pr
oper
tyand wi
l
lbe ex
cluded f
rom
i
nher
it
ance,asi
twast
hepr
oper
tyt
hatwasi
nher
it
edbyt
hewomanf
rom hersecond
husbandandhewasnott
hepr
ogenyoft
hathusband.
Thecour
tobser
ved:

Theobj
ectofsect
ion15(
2)i
stoensur
ethatt
hepr
oper
tyl
eftbyaHi
nduf
emal
e,
doesnotl
oset
her
ealsour
cef
rom wher
ethedeceasedf
emal
ehadi
nher
it
edt
he
pr
oper
ty.
..
ifsuchpr
oper
tyi
sal
l
owedt
obedr
if
tedawayf
rom t
hesour
cet
hrough
whi
cht
hedeceasedf
emal
ehasact
ual
l
yinher
it
edt
hepr
oper
ty,t
heobj
ectof

33
Chi
ntamm vRushi
bai2000AI
HC1308(
MP)
.Seeal
soRoshanLaiv
Dal
ipaAI
R1985HP8;KPLodhivHarPr
asadAI
R1971MP129

MaheshKumarPat
34
evMaheshKumarVyas2000AI
HC485(
MP)
.
AI
35
R2003Gau92.
 sect
ion15(
2)woul
dbedef
eat
ed,
ie,
ifsuchpr
oper
tyi
sal
l
owedt
obei
nher
it
edbya
sonoradaught
erwhom t
hef
emal
ehadbegot
tennotf
rom t
hehusbandwhose
pr
oper
tyshei
nher
it
s,butf
rom someot
herhusband(
whosepr
oper
tyi
twasnot
),
t
hensect
ion15(
2)(
b)wi
l
lbecomemeani
ngl
essandr
edundant
.

I
tmustber
emember
edt
hatt
heex
pressi
ont
hatt
hel
egi
sl
atur
ehasusedi
ns15(
2)(
b)i
s,
i
nabsenceof'
anysonordaught
eroft
hedeceased'
.Thesonanddaught
eroft
he
deceasedment
ionedi
nthesect
ionar
ewi
thoutanyqual
if
icat
ionandt
hewor
ds'
any
sonordaught
er'meansanysonordaught
erandnott
hesonanddaught
erofa
par
ti
cul
arhusband.I
twoul
dincl
udeal
lki
ndsofsonsanddaught
ers,
whet
herl
egi
ti
mat
e,
i
l
legi
ti
mat
e,f
rom onehusbandorf
rom anot
herhusband.Thesear
etheonl
yrel
ati
ons
t
hatar
edescr
ibedwi
thr
efer
encet
oherandnotwi
thr
efer
encet
oherf
atherorhusbandor
mot
her
.Herchi
l
drenwoul
dincl
udeal
lofherchi
l
dren.Al
lchi
l
drenhav
eequalr
ight
sov
er
t
hepr
oper
tyoft
hei
rmot
herandi
tisonl
yinc
aseoft
hei
rabs
enc
e,t
hatt
heques
tionoft
he
s
our
ceoft
hepr
oper
tybec
omesr
elev
ant
.Thecour
tiscr
eat
ingacont
radi
cti
onbet
ween
cl(
a)and(
b)ofs15(
2).Wher
ethepr
oper
tyt
hataf
emal
einher
it
sfr
om t
hepar
ent
s,goes
t
oherchi
l
dren,i
tal
sodr
if
tsawayf
rom t
hesour
cef
rom wher
eitcame.Adi
sti
nct
ion
l
i
ket
hisandanat
temptt
oconser
vet
hepr
oper
tyi
nthef
ami
l
yfr
om wher
eitcame,
woul
dmakeawomani
ncapabl
eoft
ransmi
tt
ingt
hepr
oper
tyt
oherhei
rsandwoul
d
cr
eat
eunnecessar
yconf
usi
on,f
rust
rat
ingt
hev
eryobj
ectofmaki
ngheranabsol
ute
owneroft
hepr
oper
ty.

Pr
event
ingt
hePr
oper
tyf
rom Goi
ngbyDoct
ri
neofEscheat

Pr
oper
tyi
nher
it
edbyaf
emal
efr
om herhus
bndorf
ather
-i
n-l
aw,r
ever
tst
othehusband'
s
hei
rsi
ntheabsenceofheri
ssueanddoesnotgot
oanyot
herhei
r.Wher
ethepr
oper
tyi
s
t
orev
ertt
othehei
rsoft
hehusband,
butnosuchhei
rispr
esent
,rat
heranhei
rspeci
fi
ed
i
nthegener
alcat
egor
yispr
esent
,shoul
dthepr
oper
tygot
othegov
ernmentundert
he
appl
i
cat
ionofdoct
ri
neofescheat
,ie,f
ail
ureofhei
rs,orshoul
dthepr
oper
tygot
oany
ot
herhei
roft
hedeceasedwoman?AHi
nduwi
dowdi
edi
ssuel
essandheronl
ysur
viv
ing
 36
r
elat
ivewasherbr
other
'
sgr
andson. Thepr
oper
tyav
ail
abl
eforsuccessi
onwasi
nher
it
ed
byher
,fr
om herdeceased husband.Asno hei
roft
he husband was pr
esent
,the
gov
ernmentcl
aimedt
hepr
oper
tyont
hegr
oundt
hatt
hegr
ands
onoft
hebr
otheroft
he
dec
eas
edwasnotc
over
edundert
heex
pres
sion'
hei
rsofherhusband'
,andt
her
ebei
ngno
ot
herhei
rofherhusbandpr
esent
,ther
ewasacompl
etef
ail
ureoft
hehei
rs.TheSupr
eme
Cour
thel
dthatt
heobj
ectbehi
nds15(
2)wasnott
oel
i
minat
etheot
herhei
rss
pec
ifi
edi
ns
15(
1),
butt
ogi
veanor
derofpr
efer
enc
e.Si
ncet
her
ewasnoot
herhei
rpr
esent
,thebr
other
's
gr
andsonwasal
l
owedt
osucceedt
othepr
oper
ty.

CONSTI
TUTI
ONALVALI
DITYOFSECTI
ON 15

37
I
nacasebef
oret
heBombayHi
ghCour
t t
heconst
it
uti
onalv
ali
dit
yofs15(
2)was
chal
l
engedont
hegr
oundofhost
il
edi
scr
imi
nat
ionongr
oundsofsex
.Thecour
trul
edi
n
f
avouroft
hei
mpugnedl
egi
sl
ati
onandhel
dthatt
her
uleofr
ever
sion,
ie,
proper
tyr
ever
ti
ng
t
othef
ami
l
yfr
om wher
eitwasi
nher
it
ed,wasi
nfur
ther
anceoft
hecl
earobj
ect
iveof
cont
inui
ngt
hef
ami
l
yuni
ty.Thepet
iti
onwasr
eject
edandt
hecour
thel
dthati
tisnot
di
scr
imi
nat
ory
.As af
oresai
d,i
tis onl
yunderHi
ndu l
aw t
hatnotonl
ysepar
ate
schemeshav
ebeenpr
ovi
dedf
ormal
eandf
emal
eint
est
ates,butal
sodi
ff
erentset
sof
hei
rsandr
uleshav
ebeenspeci
fi
ed,
li
nkedwi
tht
hesour
ceofacqui
si
ti
onoft
hepr
oper
ty.
Thear
gumentt
hatf
ami
l
yuni
tycanbepr
otect
edbypr
ovi
dingdi
ffer
entset
sofhei
rs,
appear
sst
range.Ar
ecommuni
ti
est
hatar
egov
ernedbyasi
ngl
eschemeofsuccessi
on,
unabl
etopr
otectf
ami
l
yuni
ty?Thi
swhol
eschemeofs15andt
henomencl
atur
eor
descr
ipt
ionofhei
rsashei
rsofherhusband,ofherf
atherorofhermot
her
,showst
hat
t
hel
egi
slat
uredoesnott
reatawomanasani
ndependenti
ndi
vi
dual
,anddoesnot
def
ineherr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thherhei
rs,i
nter
msofherownbl
ood,butascer
tai
nedt
hem
wi
thr
espectt
otheheadsoft
hef
ami
l
yinwhi
chshewasamember
.Ifsher
ecei
ved
somet
hingf
rom af
ami
l
y,'
l
eti
tnotgot
oanot
herf
ami
l
y'i
ntheabs
enc
eofheri
ssue,
seems
t
obet
hedomi
nantpur
posebehi
ndpr
ovi
dingt
heexcept
ioni
ns15(
2).Herbr
otheri
snot

St
36
ateofPunj
abvBal
wantSi
nghAI
R2991SC2301.
37
Sonr
aBaiYashwant]
adeavvBol
ogoi
'
indoYadavAI
R1983Bom 156
herhei
rint
hecapaci
tyofherbr
other
,butcansucceedasherf
ather
'
shei
r.Thi
swhol
e
ex
erci
sei
smeani
ngl
essandt
her
eisnor
easonwhyi
tshoul
dnotbescr
appedanda
uni
for
m schemegov
erni
ngal
lHi
ndui
ntest
ates,
ir
respect
iveoft
hei
rsex
,fr
amed.

SPECI
AL RULES FOR FEMALES GOVERNED BY
MARUMAKKATTAYAM ANDALI
YASANTANALAWS

Communi
ti
est
hatwer
eear
li
eradher
ingt
othemat
ri
li
neal
syst
ems,
areal
sos
ubj
ectt
othe
pr
ovi
si
onsoft
hisAc
t,whi
chi
slar
gel
ybas
edont
heMi
tak
shar
apat
ri
archalpat
ter
n.
Howev
er,
theActi
tsel
fpr
ovi
desf
oradev
iat
ioni
nthec
aseoff
emal
eint
est
ateswhower
e
ear
li
ergov
ernedbyt
heMar
umak
kat
tay
am andAl
i
yasant
anal
aws.Thehei
rsofaf
emal
e
i
ntest
ateher
e,ar
esi
mil
art
otheonespr
ovi
dedundert
hegener
alscheme,
butt
heor
der
ofpr
efer
encei
sdi
ff
erent
.
Thepr
oper
tyofaf
emal
eisc
ategor
isedi
ntot
wo,i
nst
eadoft
hreec
ategor
iesandt
he
cl
assi
fi
cat
ioni
sasf
oll
ows:

(
i) gener
alpr
oper
tyofawoman;
and

(
ii
) pr
oper
tyi
nher
it
edf
rom herhusbandand
f
ather
-i
n-l
aw.

Forsuccessi
ont
othegener
alpr
oper
ty,
thehei
rsar
egr
oupedi
ntot
hef
oll
owi
ngcl
asses:

(
i) sonsanddaught
ers(
incl
udi
ngt
hechi
l
drenofanypr
edeceasedsonor
daught
er)
;

(
ii
) f
atherandhusband;

(
ii
i) hei
rsofmot
her
;
(
iv) hei
rsoff
ather
;and
(
v) hei
rsofhusband.

Her
e,i
nkeepi
ngwi
tht
hepr
inci
plesoft
hemat
ri
li
nealsy
stems,
themot
heri
spr
efer
redt
o
bot
hthef
ather
,aswel
last
hehusband.Si
mil
arl
y,t
hehei
rsoft
hemot
herar
epr
efer
redt
o
bot
h,t
hehei
rsoft
hef
atherandt
hehei
rsoft
hehusband.
Concl
usi
on
Thust
hec
hangesmadebyt
heAc
tint
hear
eaofi
nher
it
anc
etos
epar
atepr
oper
ty,
wer
ein
t
henat
ureofmodi
fi
cat
ionsofear
li
erl
aws
,andac
cor
dedal
egi
sl
ati
ver
ecogni
ti
onoft
he
r
ightofawi
dow.I
twasapr
ogr
essi
vest
ept
hatst
rengt
henedherposi
ti
on,
buti
tdi
dnot
r
adi
cal
l
y,depar
tfr
om t
heol
dlaw.Howev
er,t
her
ight
sgr
ant
edt
othewi
dow i
nthe
copar
cenar
ypr
oper
tywer
erev
olut
ionar
yandendedupmaki
ngmaj
ori
nroadsi
ntot
he
conceptofcopar
cenar
y,t
hatf
urt
herdeepenedwi
thl
aterl
egi
slat
iveenact
ment
s.
TheAct
,asaf
oresai
d,post
ulat
edt
hatwhenaHi
ndudi
es,
hav
ingatt
het
imeofhi
s
deat
h,ani
nter
esti
ntheHi
nduj
ointf
ami
l
ypr
oper
ty,
hiswi
dowshal
lhav
e,i
nthepr
oper
ty,
35
t
hesamei
nter
estashehi
msel
fhad.
I
tther
efor
e,pr
ovi
dedf
ort
hesubst
it
uti
onoft
hewi
dowi
nthepl
aceofherdeceased
husbandi
nthecopar
cenar
yandsol
ongasshewasal
i
ve,herpr
esencedef
eat
edt
he
appl
i
cat
ionoft
hedoct
ri
neofsur
viv
orshi
p.Heri
ntr
oduct
ioni
nthepl
aceofherhusband
di
dnotmakeheracopar
cener
,butenabl
edhert
oenj
oyhi
sshar
einherownr
ight
,
36
somet
hingt
hatwasnotpossi
blebef
oret
hisAct
. Hersubst
it
uti
ondi
dnotdi
sruptt
he
uni
tyof

37
possessi
oni
nthecopar
cenar
y,nort
hej
ointf
ami
l
y. Hersi
tuat
ionwasuni
que,ass
he
38
c
oul
dnotbec
all
edac
opar
cener
,norc
oul
dshebeaKar
ta, buts
hec
ont
inuedt
obea
39
memberoft
hej
oi
ntf
ami
l
y andwasempower
edt
ocl
aim apar
ti
ti
onanddemar
cat
ionof
40
t
hisshar
e. Ti
l
lapar
ti
ti
onwasef
fect
ed,
shewasr
epr
esent
edbyt
heKar
tai
nal
lfami
l
y
mat
ter
s.Shewasent
it
ledt
opossessanduset
hepr
oper
tyand,
asshewast
heownerf
or
l
i
fe,onherdeat
horr
emar
ri
age,
thi
sshar
erev
ert
edt
othesur
viv
ingcopar
cener
s,asi
fthe
deceasedcopar
cenerwhosewi
dowi
nter
rupt
edt
hesur
viv
orshi
p,haddi
ednow.

Ther
efor
ewec
onc
ludet
hatt
heAc
tconc
ret
isedt
her
ight
sofawomani
ncl
eart
erms
.Itwas
t
hrought
hisActt
hatf
ort
hef
ir
stt
ime,shecoul
dtaket
hepl
aceofherhusbandi
na
Mi
tak
shar
acopar
cenar
y.Yet
,theActwast
otal
l
ysi
l
entaboutt
hedev
olut
ionofherest
ate
af
terherdeat
h.Si
nceherowner
shi
pint
hisest
atet
ermi
nat
edonherdeat
handshewas
notaf
reshst
ockofdescent
,i
e,t
hisest
atewasnother
it
abl
eamongherhei
rs,
thequest
ion
t
hatar
osewas,whowi
l
lsucceedt
othi
sest
ate?Ther
ulewast
hat
,wher
eshei
nher
it
ed
t
hesepar
atepr
oper
tyofherhusband,onherdeat
h,t
hepr
oper
tywoul
dgot
oher
husband'
s hei
rs,and wher
e she i
nher
it
ed an undi
vi
ded shar
ein a Mi
takshar
a
copar
cenar
y,onherdeat
h,t
hisshar
ewoul
dgot
othesur
viv
ingcopar
cener
s,undert
he
doct
ri
neofsur
viv
orshi
p.

Bi
bli
ogr
aphy
BooksRef
fer
ed

 Fami
l
yLawLect
uresbyPoonam Pr
adhanSaxena(
publ
i
cat
ionl
exi
snexi
ssecond
edi
ti
on)

 Moder nduLaw byPar

nHi wan(Al
asDi l
ahabadLawAgency
)