What Is Hindu Succession?

Hindu Succession refers to the legal framework governing the inheritance of property among Hindus in India. It is primarily regulated by the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, which defines the rules for the succession of both ancestral and self-acquired properties.

Brief Detail:

1. Applicability: The Act applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. It does not cover Muslims, Christians, and Parsis, who are governed by different succession laws.
2. Intestate Succession:
   • When a Hindu dies without a will, the property is distributed according to the rules of intestate succession as specified in the Act.
   • The heirs are classified into Class I and Class II heirs:
     • Class I heirs include the deceased's spouse, children, mother, and certain other relatives. They have the first claim to the property.
     • Class II heirs include relatives like siblings, grandparents, and uncles.
3. Testate Succession:
   • Hindus can also create a will to distribute their property as per their wishes. In such cases, the will takes precedence over the statutory provisions of the Hindu Succession Act.
4. Rights of Women:
   • The Act provides equal rights to women in inheriting property. The Amendment in 2005 gave daughters the same rights as sons in ancestral property, allowing them to be coparceners.
5. Ancestral vs. Self-Acquired Property:
   • Ancestral Property: This is property inherited from ancestors up to three generations. Coparceners have a right to demand a partition of ancestral property.
   • Self-Acquired Property: This is property owned by an individual through personal earnings. The owner can distribute this property as per their wishes through a will.

Summary:

Hindu Succession governs the inheritance of property among Hindus, providing equal rights to women and specifying rules for both testate and intestate succession, while distinguishing between ancestral and self-acquired property.