The Hindu Succession Act, 1956
Act No. 30 of 1956 · 17th June, 1956 · Full text with state amendments and footnotes.
An Act to amend and codify the law relating to intestate succession among Hindus.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
Chapter I — Preliminary
Chapter II — Intestate Succession
- General
- 5Act not to apply to certain properties.
- 6Devolution of interest in coparcenary property.
- 7Devolution of interest in the property of a tarwad, tavazhi, kutumba, kavaru or illom.
- 8General rules of succession in the case of males.
- 9Order of succession among heirs in the Schedule.
- 10Distribution of property among heirs in class I of the Schedule.
- 11Distribution of property among heirs in class II of the Schedule.
- 12Order of succession among agnates and cognates.
- 13Computation of degrees.
- 14Property of a female Hindu to be her absolute property.
- 15General rules of succession in the case of female Hindus.
- 16Order of succession and manner of distribution among heirs of a female Hindu.
- 17Special provisions respecting persons governed by marumakkattayam and atiyasantana laws.
- General provisions relating to succession
- 18Full blood preferred to half blood.
- 19Mode of succession of two or more heirs.
- 20Right of child in womb.
- 21Presumption in cases of simultaneous deaths.
- 22Preferential right to acquire property in certain cases.
- 23Special provision respecting dwelling-houses. [Omitted or repealed]
- 24Certain windows re-marrying may not inherit as windows. [Omitted or repealed]
- 25Murderer disqualified.
- 26Convert’s descendants disqualified.
- 27Succession when heir disqualified.
- 28Disease, defect, etc., not to disqualify.
- Escheat
- 29Failure of heirs.
Chapter III — Testamentary Succession
Chapter IV — Repeals
The Schedule
1 The Act hasbeen extended to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and First Schedule and to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and First Schedule.
Source: India Code (indiacode.nic.in), Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (Act No. 30 of 1956), official text. Sections 23 and 24 are omitted and section 31 is repealed; they are listed with the official note. The Karnataka (after section 6), Kerala (section 15) and Tamil Nadu (after section 29) state amendments are shown with the sections they amend.
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