jan 1, 1956 - Hindu Succession Act 1956

Description:

The Act abolishes the Hindu woman’s limited estate. Any property possessed by a Hindu female is to be held by her absolute property and she is given full power to deal with it and dispose it of by will as she likes.
Parts of this Act was amended in 2005 by the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005

It abolished the female’s “limited owner” status.

This Act is applicable to the following:
any person who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or developments including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat or follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj;
any person who is Buddhist, Jains, Sikh by religion;
to any other person who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion unless it is proved that the concerned person would not have been governed by the Hindu Law;

Exceptions:

Any person who commits murder is disqualified from receiving any form of inheritance from the victim.
If a relative converts from Hinduism, he or she is still eligible for inheritance.
However, the descendants of that converted relative are disqualified from receiving inheritance from their Hindu relatives, unless they have converted to Hinduism before the death of the relative.


The Mitakshara School of Hindu Law: A son, by birth acquires an interest in the ancestral property of the joint family.

The term Mitakshara is derived from the name of a commentary written by Vijnaneswara, on the Yajnavalkya Smriti.

It is observed in all parts of India and subdivided into the Benares, the Mithila, the Maharashtra and the Dravida schools.

The Dayabhaga School of Hindu Law: The term Dayabhaga is derived from a similarly named text written by Jimutavahana.

It is observed in Bengal and Assam.

A son has no automatic ownership right by birth but acquires it on death of his father.

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