Hindu Law
Topic 90 Landmark HSA Cases
THE LEGAL BRIDGE
Bridging Law, Learning & Success
HINDU LAW — COMPREHENSIVE NOTES
Topic 90
Top Landmark Judgments — Hindu Succession Act
Case Law Compendium & Quick Revision
Relevant Sections: Hindu Succession Act, 1956
Priority: HIGH | Exam Relevance: RJS/DJS/PCS-J
www.thelegalbridge.in
Top Landmark Judgments — Hindu Succession Act
Quick-revision compilation of the most important SC judgments on the HSA, organized chronologically.
Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (2020) 9 SCC 1 Ratio: Daughters have coparcenary rights by birth, irrespective of father being alive on 09.09.2005. Amendment is retroactive. |
Prakash v. Phulavati (2016) 2 SCC 36 Ratio: Amendment prospective; both father and daughter must be alive. OVERRULED by Vineeta Sharma. |
Danamma v. Amar (2018) 3 SCC 343 Ratio: Daughters get coparcenary rights even if father died pre-2005. Endorsed by Vineeta Sharma. |
V. Tulasamma v. Sesha Reddy (1977) 3 SCC 99 Ratio: S.14(1) — property in lieu of maintenance = absolute ownership. S.14(2) is proviso. Liberal interpretation. |
Karmi v. Amru (1972) 4 SCC 86 Ratio: Will creating new restricted estate = S.14(2). Counter-stream to Tulasamma. |
Tej Bhan v. Ram Kishan 2024 SCC OnLine SC 3661 Ratio: Referred S.14 to larger bench — 18+ conflicting judgments. PENDING. |
Gurupad v. Hirabai AIR 1978 SC 1239 Ratio: Notional partition: widow gets share BOTH in partition AND as Class I heir (dual benefit). |
Uttam v. Saubhag Singh (2016) 4 SCC 68 Ratio: Pre-HSA death — daughter cannot claim by notional partition. Survivorship governs. |
Revanasiddappa v. Mallikarjun (2023) 3-Judge Bench Ratio: Illegitimate child gets share in parents’ property (not coparcenary). S.16(3) HMA limits. |
Arunachala Gounder v. Ponnusamy (2022) 1 SCC 707 Ratio: Self-acquired property of intestate male without Class I heirs goes to Class II. Daughters of predeceased son = Class I. |
Badri Pershad v. Kanso Devi (1970) 2 SCC 77 Ratio: S.14(2) doesn’t cover transfers recognizing pre-existing right. Maintenance = S.14(1). |
Kallakuri Pattabhiramaswamy November 2024 SC Ratio: Life interest under Partition Deed without pre-existing right = S.14(2). Restricted estate preserved. |
Jogi Ram v. Suresh Kumar 2022 LiveLaw (SC) 115 Ratio: Limited estate under will = absolute ONLY if given for maintenance. Otherwise S.14(2) applies. |
C. Masilamani Mudaliar v. Idol (1996) 8 SCC 525 Ratio: 3-Judge Bench reaffirmed Tulasamma. S.14(1) beneficent provision to be broadly interpreted. |
H. Srinivasa v. H.V. Raghavendra (2020) 10 SCC 604 Ratio: Post-2005: coparcener can bequeath undivided interest by will (S.30 HSA + Explanation). |
P.K. Lakshmi v. Gopi 2026 KER 20646 Ratio: Life estate under will → absolute under S.14(1). Tulasamma binding until larger bench decides. |
EXAM TIP: Big 5 HSA cases: (1) Vineeta Sharma (daughter = coparcener by birth); (2) V. Tulasamma (S.14(1) liberal); (3) Gurupad (notional partition dual benefit); (4) Tej Bhan (S.14 larger bench); (5) Revanasiddappa 2023 (illegitimate child’s rights). |
— End of Topic 90 —
www.thelegalbridge.in