Hindu Succession Act 1956

Hindu laws are derived from Vedas and Dharmashastras

"Hindu" Greek word

Indus Valley civilization was called "Indoi" which become "Hindu" which become "Hindustan".

Concept of Dharma used to create sores.

 

1. Source of Hindu Law

Primary Sources

1. Shrutis Vedas

2. Smritis

3. Digests and Commentaries

4. Customs

 

Secondary Sources

1. Legislation

2. Precedence or Judicial decisions

3. Justice, Equity and Conscience.

 

1. Shrutis/ Vedas

- Words of gold

- Shru = hear

- Vedas were written by Ganesha

- Heard by sages, spoken by god

 

Type of Vedas

1. Rigveda

2. Samaveda

3. Yajurveda

4. Atharvaveda

 

2. Smritis

- What is remembered. Memories

- Heard by sages. Spoken by god. Remembered from god. What has been remembered by sages

Ordent smritis

- Manusmriti

- Dharmashastras

 

3. Digest and Commentaries

- Comments on shlokas and smritis

- Digests

- 2 major digests / commentaries

 

1. Dayabhaga

- Written by jimutavahana

- Main focus on succession

- Son gets property after death of father

- In Bengal and Assam only

- Recent School

 

2. Mitakshara

Yajna Valkya Smriti Written by Vijnaneshwara

- Main focus on inheritance by birth

- Son has customary birth right on property

- Rest of India except Bengal and Assam

- Orthodox school

 

Vineeta Sharma Vs Rakesh Sharma

Interpretation of 2005 amendment. Son's right to be coparceners should be given to daughters as well.

2020, the Court said that daughters have right from Birth

 

 

 

4. Conclusion

- Ancient

- Continuous

- Certain

- Does not oppose public policy

- Does not oppose any law or statute

 

5. Legislations

 

6. Precedence/ Judicial Decisions

 

7. Justice, Equity and Good Conscience

- Principle of English Law

- When same rule of Hindu Law is silent on something the judges rule and decides for this.

 

2. Inheritance

- Title

- Office

- Property

- Power

 

Types of Succession
Testamentary Succession

1. Will

2. Testamentary document decides

 

Interstate Succession

1. Will

2. Laws decide

 

Section 30 - Testamentary will receiver will be governed by Hindu succession Act.

 

Hindu Succession

1. Full Blood - Ancestor

2. Half Blood - Ancestor

3. Uterine Blood - Ancestor

 

Rules of Inheritance

1. Full Blood . 1/2 Blood

2. Murderer

Someone who murdered or attempted to murder his relative will loose his right of inheritance.

3. Converting from Hinduism

After conversion, right of inheritance stays. But, offspring's of the converter lose the inheritance rights.

4. Child in Womb

- We presume that the child will be born alive

- Child has right to inherit

- Transfer of Property Act Supports as well

5. Disease

Section 28 - Having a disease does not disqualify inheritance rights

6. 2 Persons

A & B two brothers died together. It will presume that a died earlier than B. Section 27 A's Kid's inheritance right is 1 and B's Kids right is 2.

 

 

 

Section 8 - General rules of succession in the case of males

1. Class I Heirs - Section 10

2. Class II Heirs - Section 11

3. Agnates - Section 12

4. Cognates - Section 12

5. The State (Escheatment) 29

 

Section 15 General rules of succession in the case of female Hindus

1. Son, Daughter, Husband

2. Heirs of Husband

3. Mother and Father

4. Heirs of Father

5. Heirs of Mother

 

Section 22 - If a person dies without will, his sole proprietorship/ partnership/ LLP will be dissolved amongst class I heirs.

If someone not in Class I wants a share, they can claim and will get preference above.

Section 27 - Succession when heir disqualified

If any person is disqualified from inheriting any property under this Act, it shall devolve as if such person had died before the intestate.

 

Invalid Marriage - It is a marriage not recognized by court or done for illegal purposes. e.g. marriage not registered