Miss R Kantha D/O Sri Soddaramaiah Reddy vs Union Of India on 8 July, 2009

[Cites 6, Cited by 1]

Karnataka High Court

Miss R Kantha D/O Sri Soddaramaiah Reddy vs Union Of India on 8 July, 2009

IN THE HIGH COURT 0;: KARNATAKA DATED THIS THE 8**i)A'Y';T'£JI;Y"..§)Fv«ﬁO&}9_ BEFoRE%*%% %%%% f % THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTI'-CE'- ANAN£)V1BY11AP.fEVDBY 'WRIT P1';'rm01§ N;;;1c§ﬁ;'.é%{>a7 (ex/1;REs) BETWEEN:

D,'o.Sri.Dodd::.IIi:§'='£1h A L Aged mat 3ﬁr. 3','eaf§;

Residing; aa%I;¢ban;:m1:»a,jT-{f % Razﬁagofidanahalﬁ, A: . ' Bangalore Squib " V. BangaIc;re--56i3' Raprziscnicd by G.'P,A. .


 V'  hoicief' Sri;.G€rvjnd 

  :S;Bha1, Adm)

'4     vflndia,

. Represented by its,
 Cabinci Secretary,

 V'  Ministry of Law,

Justice and Company

Affairs, New Deihid 10 001.

..PETITIONER





2. State of Kumalaka,
Represented by its  
Principal Secretary,    
D6?-'ﬁtment of Law,   . 3 A
Vidhanzs Soudha,
Dr.Ambedkar Veedhi,
Bangalure-569 G91.

(By.SIi.Aravind Kumar    ,

Smt.A.R.Sharadamba, Additional? &ivGc5veemn':ent Advocate for Reﬁﬁmdenl No.2)' .' V' ' _ This Vv'r*§i Péﬁiiigzn "is {£1-3;: Uf:dei';A1'§§'ele 226 and 227 of the Constitution; {if "Ind§&"1pra3<iV:ag"to decIart'-- the proviso to Section 6 (1) (C)£u Hindi}. -f§:uecessi.OﬁvVL_'A,t:1iendi3tenl act (act 39105) which came irriev -eﬁlect "§§fith"'~Eifeci F;'en*:. 9.9.2005, in 5:2) far as it pertains to saviﬁg'9£_' 'aliaenaiéums/parﬁﬁun etc, by deviating the said prcsvise a31ira."viree.Ih.-fa article 14 and 16 of Constitution oflndia &'e1c.; ' ' This been heard and reserved an 9-6.2009 .__and':ei:3I:;i13g..%_0n fer'p--ren'oance:nent of orders this day, the Conn:

' Vdciixwred ﬁre' E'eivlowing:--

QBMSR x fags writ petition is ﬁled seeking to challenge the e'~__'e:_.vinsiiiuEiunai validity of [he Proviso to Seclien 6(i )(s;) of the VT "Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 (Act 39 032005). 3 % ..e_1EE§.S}Pi¢'f§i7;!:~'VI'V}VZ)WEVI~JTS kk

2. The background to the: pctiliun is as The petitioner aged about 3633 Que Dcxldaramaiah Raddy [kvddarmaiah Ruddy is alive. a mi: suit in 0s.s.3104.r2007 bcI'eirfﬁ«:;_..§3I;: Bangalore . The suit is fur paxiifisn; anti" 3w¢;¢ of joint family properties. Thu plainﬁﬂ' has called in in respect of the suit propurtiés as 'nu! bizidézig» égjifaying the Pmvisu to Section 6(l )(e;) of the Himiu Adi undar Act 39 of 24305, the {rial court \}«a:§' 5m:l§1?'1r:}{i'_~ 1;3cj.;_l'i':-}mi:s.~.~: the suit as nut mainlainable. It was at that ~V slag; prcsani mil petition is ﬁled qucstivning the:

K n V' .. i<;:$;:s'ii!;;:£ivc;na1 vaiidily of the Proviso Eu Secliun 6(i Xv) cf Hindu 4 ' V " ___ " Siiééﬂcﬁsion Amendment Act, 2005.

The mspcmdemix, narmsly, {he Union wf India and the State of Kamalaka having been scrvcd, and though art: rcpmscntcd by 6 Counsel, have not choscn to ﬁle; statamcnt of oéji' ' the contentions of the Counsel for vlirze' mtiiioncfyt. of t j t matter having been adjourned on s¢:vot*;1I'--oooasio;.-ts "to cIiat53::AVih;f. parties to do so.

3. The Counsel hcaxd oi tungﬂ1_ It is contended 'obj.r:ct.A'oft "Hindu Succession cqtaality in the matter of partiliorivtioit among Hindus by treating the daughiors which is aimed at the constitutional goai"-oi? equality, tvitlioijt discrimination in the matter of partition, A 'on -the' of Ilfis that the Proviso to Section 6(1) lays down gzotiwithstanding the amendment, any disposition, aticnation, .' any partition, or testamentary disposition of propcriy " httvétzich had taken place before the 20"' December 2004, would not bc affcctcd or invalidated. In other words, any such alicnations or 5 disposition prior its 20* December 2004, etc saved as; agfaissegxhe right ofa daughter of 3 cu-parctrner- It is urged "

was entitled to an equal right in me joint'faﬁxilg"p1%npert§zi'.utie§ef' Fe section 6-A of the Hindu Suueessiﬁﬂy Act, 1955 (As.-123 (£1994). said W into eITect fmm 30.7.1994? eari petitioner under the Kamalaka taken away by virtue of the of 2005) . IE is '.z¥eef'ued could nut be taken away by subs{iv'..uf--.iunV of Amendment Act. Further, the Prr.wi,~:u.v to .'}\.c1 39 of 2005, is not rtziruspeeliye. née.rﬁeasL2ne"'essigned in the Statemeni of Objecis and the Amendment Act 39 of 2005 in providing suc§i"a cut-?e3iT'da£e. Then: is no indication as to the consequence " :e,;giui""Sla1e amendment Act, resuliing in rights having accrued .' ti,» Ve'dz:1ugh1er under the State Amendment Act The Pmvise is " Qirbilrary and uncunsiituiiunal, Fer ii discriminates between a sun and a daughter, for if, is open to a sun {:3 question aiienatiuns and § The Cuunsci For the pctiliuncr would aiaso iv» 21 Division Bench decision in 4\/'anjc2m.*:zc:..;md V3. of L. Kamaiaica and others; 1999 (2) \Vii6I§iE"¥, pf ' Sccliun 6-A of the Hindu A61, 1990, was called ,iii~.g,}"ut:S'¥;§'fLii'1:'.I;:S:' uﬂ:1'£:(§f1s'[i;u1iuna} and violativt: of Article 14 The said clause having made a_, ' daughters namely, a'i1Vrv1'n: «ﬁdjiintéizncezncni uf the Amendment A31, in claim a share: in pmpcrty, as was avaiiabfﬁ daughlcr or a daughitsr married after =.,{}1c"-ig§;;fc?fc;ct;x.:;nl <§Vf tii£:'VAct. It was held that [ha object of daughicrs and the: cases uf paxiiiiun alrttady the appliuaiiun uf the Act, apps-am in be masunabin H inléiﬁicd to awid reopening of the pariitiuna which were ﬂﬂbciéd in the family. And that then: was it deﬁnite: nexus "'ii£:{we:cn the slassificaliuns made and the ubjcci suughi. in be achieved by providing Clausdd) c3fScciion 6-«A uf {ha Ad. 6 The Counsel, however, wuuid submit that the raiiesgf that deeisiun ought not to fetter the entertainment Q3':

petition as the grmmd of ehailenge cannot be said " we

5. The Hindu Succession. Ac-1, deatiiig succession among I Iindus came "force Of!'-I $hn¥$;§ 1956. This Act bruught about in the 1:r2:&t.§'Vt't.i'!f_:a:;i($ce;:sion and gave rights which were hitherto iiI3knQW:I.I',=.V2.Ht'V.1;'t7i;;ttittI1' 'twumanﬁs property.

However, it diz1_"1iti'§;[.§":i:[:e::i*?;rc€ rights of those who are members: Of2!{}";ifﬁ[E1k.§ihiiIt'téi»Vt.{Z£»'-:3tif£J{§§}%£1'}' except to provide rules for dcveivutiori efttize-j Gf a deceased in certain cases. The Act laid douimée uniti;n:i._ai1d -eumprehensive system of inheritance and xinteV1'¥ali:«:_,___.ta3 persons governed by Mitakshzim and as also to those in certain parts of southern Indiatvéhe.Ay=§eteA.e}2reviuusIy guvernmi by the Mummakkaiiayam, and Nambudri Systems. The Act applies to any 'jwhu is a Hindu by rcfigiun in any uf its fauna or

-.._ﬂ;}cyelopmen1s including 3 Vimshaiva, a Lingayat or a fuﬂvwer of If} inicstaic, the Act lays dawn a set uf gcmzrai rulcsﬁii In I3.

Before the present mncndmciii..AS'euiiunT,'fé". {ﬁr}, devolution of interest in pmpcri$i'L'L-2933 :4s1bV!"iox$fS::~V':

"6. Devolution of - When 3 male Himiu dies after th¢A€Q§11n1ex:'¢éii3c-'bf at the time of his death an iatergsét i%rop_eﬂ 1I"lVi."L'c:'i:.I"lHf:é3l'6Sf in the propeify shall devolve by mﬂmbéfﬁ of the and not in astcordange with « . % ' < "

Provieiédu had leﬁ him surviving a female relative _ 'in"Class f(§f"3i}@__g'$G§16dlEi6 or 3 maﬁa relative specifiesd in ihaf class vsrAhG«9i§:in1;§' 'ihrc:;;gi;.s1ich femaie relative, the interest of the éeazeaseé in the éhali devolve by testamentary or intestate succession, as V V' _ the cage niayh iinﬁer 11135 Act and not by survivorship.

" ; 'ExpIanation in Fm the purposes of $112.': Seating the interest egrf a Rﬁtaksmta czswparcener shaﬂ be deenxed to be the share in the pmperty "'«:Vufi.2hfw01:ld have been aliotted to him if a partition of fin: property had iaicen % H griace inmiediataiy before his cfeaﬂa, irrespective of wizefhegi W23: IE5' ._V claim panitien I)!' not. ».

Exp-ianatian 2. M Nothing contaixaed ift«-thé'provis9v§:rA be constmed as enabling a person who"h.a}é"separat¢d. hiﬁ1.s:§}f ffagnz the before the death 01' 21 deceased or any his Eaéiisﬁi ;::3Ef\i"1i1_ A-on mteﬁxsj} a share in the interest refszrred tr) 'ther6i:1."

Befun: Q? cudifying the rules of samcession, " family under Mitakshara School law. ,!Vhz_; ¥.':'Ml> i&€a§i'{:r¢}iﬁa1ily juint nut only in csiaic but aprépcrly, in cuniradisiinclion with the in religiuus matturs Es £&*t.:'Ii=. _ _ absulgzjé 'V or scpé{:r2zi¢__ grgtgmriy of any individual co-pare-snag N dt,:vt>l_,v_c>:;§_Vi1p1;n' S'uxjxiving co-parwmsrs in the famfiy, according In {IiE:.of(§£é_v:;_In§it}n by survivurship.

" * 6 dealing with {he dc-vuiuiion of the interest of a 'Hindu in prupcriy and while recognising the ruk: uf '«..(.:ie'£ri}It:liun by sunriwrship among the members of the co- pamcnaxy, made an exccpiiun to the rule: in the proviso. According 3 12 to the pmvisu, if the deceased had left him surviving at fcmate rciativc: speciﬁed in Class I of st:-htzdtztc 1, ur a male rsiative speciﬁed in that Class who claimed through such i?:1nair:.___r¢:!aiivc, the interest of the deccascct in the MitaI<:shar2t.._"e§t§§p;;rs.$é:z;ar}* property dcvutvcd by testamentary or intestate the Act and not by survivurship- 13xv'i£:tt§§f3'ar:;f:i3g:r~:VVttIt:c'lt:r Scutiun 30 to make 21 ttsstamtmtary (tﬁ-,'${'.'§'*'(.I'!'-:ilii.I*I"kZv,.{V§*'.t: ufjgctivitted intcmcstin the Joint family pmpc1'"Vt}A_V't' _ V ' Thu rule: of survi\:{_3}3i:i;:ﬁ_ "V«_i:3t:L§'t;:pcratiun only -- where: {he did .3;-.-axrc' him surviving a female rctativt:

spcciﬁedtiizg Class}. zjrta ,Itiatéfclativc speciﬁed in that Class who claims' titmugh "su_g;:hV fcntaaic rciativc, and (ii) when tht: dcccastrd hact.,nut _;i1:¢d3V£:'~-tgstamcntary disposition of his undivided share in The Schcduic tn the Act mad with Seutttin. gprtrtiidcd thc Fe-Iluwing twcivc rctatitma: as Class I heirs.- ' ft_'3«3Vr1V;t"daughter; widow; mother; sun of a pm-deceased son; dztnghtcr at a prc~dcc-cased sun; son at prc-dmscascd daughter; 3 33 daughfcr :31" a pm-deceased daughter, widow son; sex: of prc--dc¢;::ascd sun uf as preldéccasad ':i'z::;;vg;;'i:"1cr '.¢}$' "' rc--dc<.:cascd :-sun of a re-deceased S'on;"'widuw .(f;.':," . "re-deceased son Ufa prc~dc2ccas¢:d sun.

Section 6 as it ﬁne existence: uf co.

parcunazy pfugﬁfffé' gt)-pa1'ccncr for the application qf Vsurvivorship. The head unit: ufA:':i*%§aa1 interest in ctrparccnary pr0pcr£y "x_A T ﬁzain pmvisien in ihc «::ITcut that "his in1cz*r:slEi:;«.V[%I1t: devalue: by survivursfxip upon ihc .survi.i{ffzg;>_mcmbcrs'5 'i'1"1'dicVa£c:d that the dcvoiution by survivurship is wigh' rt§fz:.1AV"t:x*:{:z::T._£"L;. the deceased e;upan;c:m:r's interest alunc' [his t\Fi{.3%I"[:{':1.Li{::I1L)£iUn£ii ariiliun cuntcm Ialcd in Ex lamaiion I % 4% P P p that for ihc; asccrtainmcni of the interval of the deceased in a Mitaksham cu-pamcnary property indie-a.1cd.Ihat was no disrupﬁon of the entire: ¢:u-paz*c::nary. Ii fuﬁowcd that g 15 canrzot go back or: that a.s'S1£rrlp!i0r.! and ascerta;'r;s the share of the heirs withom' reﬁzremse to itmgéilf ' the corisequerices which ﬂow frzzarrt real ,c?;i%'iifi(§}I have to be i¢:gic¢:Zly worked' -zytzpg H2}:ich_-:rze.».«wi;§ '-- _ the snhare of the heirs rmzst be aS;:é'r{£1i?'ge¢i7"0#£_ the basis (fail they had' sepa'ra£ea'ffo_rri {ﬁe an¢§§}.§efé* arid n K "

had received a share :'}*.'i_ 1":'V.{eV2 p¢2Pti§ior: _}§9}ii¢_:}'é"._;}2iiaI'~ taker: place cfzzrirzg the pf ~ The alfafrrzertt 0d',"éf}ii.$' 3}:-.ﬁre:.i,$ ir:43£ Vc'{?AjE?!?;><>ec1?24rc2'l step devised mereﬁy for flu? jiiiipvéésé of Wz5f'kf?:g out some orhc-2:" céfééfzgsiorg.' 22;! 2':_'ec£'£ec;F éértcz' accepted as 'aiﬁjsncrété reériinejz, scametiiirig that came! be Z"{'6C(7?l3§E1?j££3'§"'»4.{ft.§'£2" 'aK5'};P{."I'..'"V.t'..' allattea' to :3 in an actzzai pimfiiiart V'e;§a}m<:i£.ggerzerarfiv be recalfeef. ﬁze ' ' L§rzes}if:3'£>I¢;V kxérélfsgry ofthis pz)s'iri<;sr: is that the heir ?-f'wi33* gear hisvéfﬁzer shczre Er: the irzferest which the 'had it: the cowpazrcenary propergi at the I235' a'ea2'h. in acidz'tie.>r: to the share which he .-_j£:ir -2;-ﬁe received or rrzzzsi ire deemed :0 }:ave2 received a - Hi}: the m:»tior:c:Z partiriorz. "

V' in State ufﬁa/"ctizarashfra V. Narayan Run, 11!}? 1985 Sﬁprenm Cmzri 716, the Supreme Court carefully considered the '- dtzcisiun in Gurztpuzfs case and pointed Gui lhai Gumpaa".s' 6336 3 36 has to be [mated as an auihuriiy (only) for the posi_1:§u'x2«' :£is'_i_';c::1 a fcmak: member who inherits an interest in j_Is~§a1-- gwgérly under Section 6 of (ht: Act ﬁlus a Ra"

willingness lo gt: out of the Ii::;zVa'vi'§.§{Vsh;{1v'¢Q)u3d_ the interest she has inheﬁfed have been nulionally ailotiud in I to Section 6 of the Act. But il.vt;3j 331_t_)l ﬁmpositiun {hat she:

ceases lu on the death of a main

-"'ilLlV%l'.il'6Sl in the family pmpcrly devolves !h£:rV wmiiﬁon to scparalzs hm':-:c3f frum the _ 'V A ietgstlx'1'ia:.§.§ﬁ§;;__§:f:uuld no doubt urdinarily be szarritzd to its »3§igi--::gi uni the purpusus fur which it is enacted but it that. It is no duubl [ruc that the right of ii _femal't: ﬁe the inicresl inherited by hefin the ﬁxmﬁy pmpcriy A " }§§Led on the date of the death :3? a male member under Sccijun 6 :.:f {he Act but she cannul be ircalcd as having ceased to be a member of [hrs family withuul her vuiilion as otherwise it will 36226 to sirangc: results wh£a:h maid not have been in the cuntemplatiun 3 37 <,)fPar}ian1t:ni when it enactcd that pruvision and which might also not be in the interest of such females.

The above was the posiﬁun of law as it 4_ subsiitution of Section 6 by the prcsg:1:'i"Set.;-l«iL1'fA1 i 2005.

Section 6, as subsli1ulcd""éS}"'--Act W¢:ﬁlrdclt':VcVl below for ready rcfcrcnnﬁ '_ V V V "6. Devolution _i5r2t¢1*é;s%t i}1 property (1) 93141116. fi""C» t}} tlwi.«iccxxiitiéﬁzscfeizzérlt of the Hindu $2}CI}5§"4'ﬁi'§$it?21!4(;3!.;i1&E3#ii"i3¥1€3lt§}AC1, 2005, in a Joint Hindu " fai21iiy'gs}#*¢ii1z%§i"t1ié Mitaksh-a.1-a law, the daughter

-afa ct)-yarcetiair £31311},-

V «$21) by bixﬂat co-pameneg' in 1181' own right in the j A ~._,4:_'sé,tx1é§:':r:a12;1e2*as the 313:1; {§3&V§§&vé'§$}1§§. same rights in the co-parcetxary propesty as 's§~3aAe§""vAsIe3uld have bad if she had been 21 san;

" subject to the sznxae liabilities in respect of the said c0=~par::enar§I property as that of a son, and any refererzce to a Hinéu MitaI<:sha.ra shad} be deezried £0 inciude a reference to a ciaughter of 3 cc,:»--parceI1s3T:

Provided that nothing contained iI't_ :ﬂli§;. "

Section shall aﬁéct or iiivalidgte a11y'.'cii§§k"3-é'i:ti.dé1w alieqiation inciuding any ;:;?n'titi»c,)11A jjo2W_tést;1113e:x!éi:3r f disposition of pmpez'ty_which takezr 'be*fc§1'e A ' " V ' the 20"' day ofI)ecernV!$e1j,:"'.?&{}t)4. (2) Any "'g:2je;per£}}mtc}é Qa fe:1ﬁé.Ie'AVHir1du be,-comes erltitlecié' (1) 3112312 be held bya.I:er v}»*i'ﬁ:- 'iz1;f:id1e$:.ﬁs " ':':o-parcenary oxvxxefsiiig .3I1a§!_l " notwithstanding any other law for .. the-_ utita;_i'§é,~ asV;.:4'<;pet1y capable of being cf 'by tesfatllexltary disposition.

(3V) :1 Hindu dies aﬂef the " u$3<3I33.IIlé.'a2s;?_$:fiVit":!!t: of the Hindu Successicn . E5"ofAii1¢:1_2d111et1i) Act, 2005, his interest in the property :§";h§i1;§ Hindu family governed by the Mitakshara iz§ééié:,--: devolve by testamentary or intestate v--..'Si1cc:;=€>ssi01:, as the case znay be, under this Act and " by sa2~'viv0rs}1ip, and the co-pamenary property shaii be deemed to have been divided as if a paxtitiam had taken 93366 and,-

(ahhe daughter is allotted the same share as is aifoitad to a son;

é $9 (1)) the share of a pie-deceased sun or 3. A ' daughter, as they would have got had f_§l¢3'-- at the time of partition, 3 .. l _ surviving child of such pre-£i'ep;%eéa=sezd soil' 9!' "of .s;u;ll'--~ l p,,¢.de=s;*eased daugl1te1';laﬁd..V 1 (:3) the sahare of the :;?l1'il.(l:l_ pre» son 01': of a ~daugl1tef, such child would llavcl g§,r3_t'l1é:é alive at the time x)f_tl;z}_.par1iii{§ii,' the child of such Q? son or a asjﬁzelligaée may be-.

1 Exglléiiatieyﬁl.F:*:§<,:il1e:_.purposes of this sub-Swtiml, ,£l1é«.i:1{ea--'e§f;t' _l9Iltaks}2a1'a shall be deetxled to '$l}ll1't} in l:llé7p1'opet1:y that would have been l 'V lallotteil a panition ofthe moperty had taken ,, yiyiaée.fzinrlediately befasre his deatll. irrespective ref l . :"'vsyl:ai;l1e_:1fi;;-3 was entitled to; claim partitiml or not (4) After the atozmzlegrcexrxerit of the Hindzu " _ Successiexr (Atnen¢ne12t) Act, 2(}i)5, no Couxt shall 1*e~ct3gt2ise any right to p:'«.)ceed against a son, granclson or great-graz1dse.m fez" the Iwovery of am! debt due ﬁ'0IIl his father, gmzldfatlser at great»- grandfather solely on the ground of the pious obligation under the Hindu law, of such 5:011, 5 20 grandson or great-g:'andson to disc§1a:'gé'._'£121}{*T2;iii:}1 ' -- debt; _ Provided that in ﬁg of'-v_a:iy aee;:% % contracted before t}1e' gL':i:;x11endé;21e11t pf Hi:-"xiii:

Succession (A1nendn1eiit}. AcL .2x'}.95V, nxétilirxg contained in tiaié ;~;.z1A_£3>-S_+;*;aV;*t2'«_3'V:A1"-3:2;-.é.~.i:IL'aﬂ'es:t-- (3) the right any against the sQ:1;ggf:ittds0x10:' gféai->g>,g;a1ikimn;a;as the case may " H H " j»('1w_) a.:iy-- ah;é£1;iti4":n -made in respect of or in ""._saiti§;fac:t_i6;~§'.'oS§Vany's:1:§.f-1debt, and any such right or aIi:3patiQti"'3§:é't§§_ "E2e:}enfor"ceabie under the mic': of ' * pious 0bIig21tim:'1?t1ﬂ1e same manner and to the same i;e.w;ten£ as it Viiiféiilld have been enforceabie if the (Axrlendureznt) Act, 2005 had not u'Ix%%;~,':;:..ej33ﬁted.

' .. iI31:§r;;fa;:ati<}11-F01' the },)li1'p<)?S€S of clause (3), the éxpx*essi~.m "son", "grandson" or "great-grandson"

shall be deemed to refer to the 30:1, maxidsmx er great»-gramkon, as the case Ina}; be, who was burn :32' adopted prior {:3 the csmnnencement ef the Hindu Successioxl {Amendment} Act, 2895.

6 21

(5) Nothing arontained in this section ' pamtion, which has been effegg-gee: befc:e"ih.éf££}"1' day_ V_: "

of December, 2004.

Explanation-Fm' t1xeV»T.g§i::pose5"' gf V "partition" means any paéffitiﬁgx-zgxadé of a deed of pﬁgiifjmi jégjef-,:i's1;:red the Registration Act, # of partition ef'f'ecte§",_§:i3},;_ a §o:i;1=.V_'* ~ 2 ' considcfﬁliﬁﬁi " ' _ lu Section 6(I)(c) cf lhc: Hindu . .. (figilﬂtgiidﬁlﬂni) Act, 2005 is arbitrary and of Article 14 of the Constiiuiizm uf India as it tsqual right in a daughter of a co-parmsncx} to any dispcysiliun or alienation of ccrpanxsnary Npruperty prior to 2{3.i2.2€)04)vis~&~vis a sun.

b) Vihclhcr the pcliﬁioncr, an unmarried daughter, cuuld seek paﬁitiun uf undivided co-panscnary property during @ 22 the Iife--1imc: of hcr fathttr, nutxvi1hsia1;¢§§n§§_ Sm.'-ccssiun (Amtndmcnl) As:-1; 3995 H " " 'Q '< é It was canvassed that a.=z'igI_11 of pciiliuncr under the Hindu Suc<;{4§;:é>.z4,i:§3a3.v_»(I~i'ai*nal§_§Viv.ca ﬁanmdmenl} Act, 1994 (23 of 1994) Miaeu'm;%%rnm:j%3{3;7.1994 --» it) an equal sham in the cuupargtsnazy"pr£fp§t-tgfgf family, in [arms of L-motion rgads as fulluxvs:

.... daughter in «:0»-

' anything wntained in seem 5 this' m;A'%%% 3 Eint Iiittdit Family governed by

5.--.":;-iithkghara fhe daughter 9f 21 co-parcener shall bgcanie 3 e::«:s--parcener in her own right in ' ma.nner as the son and have the same.

the co-parcenary property as she wnuki " _ have had ifshe had been a son, imltwive ofthe right £9 claim by sunrivmﬁship and shall be subject to the same iiabilily and disabiiities in reapeci thereto as the sea;

(13) at a partition in such a Jaint Himiil Faniily the co-pamenmy gtoroperty shali be so @ 23 divided as to allot to a daughter the same share §§"is< --. :_. aﬂottabie to 3 sen;

Prmideii that me share whi1:J.1_ a _ son at a predeceased daughtar vizguld gist 1at if1a ' " V: ._ panititm if he or she hxlbwix aéiiveléf the §5f' 1 ' the partition, shall be the,-A 'é11rtviv5.:;1g of such predeceased son sugsh daughter: __ ._ _ _ Proviziezd si1';:;ii"~%;V"_2zil'ii:itfgzb1e to the precieceafmi of a been alive at me' i§;;i1eT'£:f'3ti}e: 'p.aj;}'.iftii;:1,v":i:;héi1V1A as aiiotred to the _ c1a.E1g_i.:§rf the predeceased 50:1 _éx' :vfV s;}é§i1VpmcViéa;;§'ae¢d' daughter, as the ease " (C) prépéity to which a female Hindu " hecon1e§ ..§{iiitlad :by virtue of the provisions of i_+:lm1s;§&(3)s11aVii'Eé heid by her with the incidents of ~ ownership and shall be regarded, 1 "'n6ia:fiﬁ2:§§£iﬁ6ing anything contained in this Act or &ii§v'_ law fer the time being in force, as " .. jmaperiy capable of being disposed of by her by Wiil or other testamentary dﬁzposiiion; id) nothing in chase (it) shall apply :0 a daughter married prior to or to a partiiitim which had been effected befme the caanmmzcﬁrnent of Hindi:

Stsccessim (Kamataka Amendment) Act, 1999". § 24 It is smighi in be pointed uni [here was said provision for an unmanicd daughicr il}i_'{.[l1_.f.'-§s'_i!iL?i.!i iirqér ptiur 7. disposition or aiicnaiion of 'tighti"isL taken away under the proviso to 6(i'}( of 2005 and therefore it is iiézcifucd oughi in be held {:3 subsisi. N This cor;'lc§ii'§;7r_ai1 .cii1i1z;%§_3i" ..s:is'I}1in6=d for the following 1'$3S0ﬂSI The Ac! came into effect from Amendment Act came iniu effect from" lailcr prevails sever the fiinner in terms (if _ ih¢ Constitution uf India which cnunuiaics the ncjriiiéiiruii: the event of 2;: cunﬂist bciwecn 2: Union and a ISlalc iii the cnncuireni ﬁzcld the Iizrmcr prevails over {he '~.Ia1ici*¥_ino mailer that this Uiiion Law is Later in lime --- the Union will prevail and Lht: Siam Law shxﬂ, to the extent of such be void, This is subject 10 {ha exception tzngraficd under clause (2) ufArtic}c 254 of the Consiiiaiiun of India. 3 t % "2(};1'L;.2Ei3t€}~"§-

Further, thzs petitioner has ﬁlcztd the suit for p:»~:fti'tit§':3Vj:i'z3_' the yczar 2%? when the 2005 Act had cums into :2}:

iungcr drama.' sustenance from the Kzmanétake ﬁimcﬁﬂiﬂﬁfﬁivﬁdi. The 7. L position would not be any diffcrentt:.,vc§i:._ in a i3j:;:1@i'ing Vstz«..1'i't'vt{"1Vh:-4.1 prior [u the coming into form: u'{"'t't§;Té:»5?.0O5 }E.L:t"3ﬁé3 thc basis of the: Karnataka ..Act';t :«

7. The tftitai them: is no basis, under 6( 3 the 280$ Act, to restrict this right 0i'A2:VVdaugh1::t"«'{}fV:i Vt::.:;§§:!.:ai'<:en<:r from cs-aiiing in quctstiun zmy disptgsivtigvn v-aiisnéiiizin the co-parctsnary prupcrty prior to t' Frgvgii cxaminatiun of ihc: Statement of Ohjccts and "~..Rca5oii:-;V__t}i3 the Amendment Act and even fmm the contents vi' the Report of the Law Commissiutm of India and Aranexures % ....i.§§ercto the raiiunai basis urn which the said rcstritztiun is piaced 3'2:

V nut appamnt. Ania:-xurc~II to the Report whiazh £3 Siyihd as Q 23 A recent Suprerm': Court decision in ;';:"'§aa.é;j£¢'s Sczrrsxradi v. Urzitm of :'r2cl:'a lends st1pp_«5i1t..;tz:~ftjheL'4 % View that :1 distirtctiotr betwaeiya. 'ma'tTiDe_d"&1't:fi' air umxtarried daughter wit} be ;'ut}t".'-t'}f1s'£§Vil1ﬁC?ii&§ 7' Supre:-.1zze Court heid that .t_}_1e ciﬁ';:r;i2ii' in fe:tié§*i::g_tl1e choice of 21 retirirtg e11x1)§'t:e§{:é'e. to tl£f,>I}V'i§..t_}_'c'1'i'i'-'.?t Itizigried datighter is "$'V1}0H3" 't?,t_lt':':'a5i¢.;ttia*13hL*'*" and gender biasm-.d" ﬁzééjiiaisihe dowtt tindcz-2* Article 14 of Réferfiiig to the c}is.'ti::a:ti'«;>f;.1 VE"i:~.1s1t2r'1 by tfié éir{;}it§é;x*w iteﬁveetl a mariéed ar:d"u':%mﬁ:':'iégi ﬁattgizter, P_tif1e:h1.1i; 3, observed:

V %%%% ;»é:§:§_gjbi1.i:t3,r_:L')f"a« --1'{'gf£tfl'ii3(i daughter gym am pIa,éé£i'v-at. .a,_ ';§?.tTth-.:§I1t1II£l1a1'!'it3(§ dauglm-1* (for site :::us1t.}:a~;;:je in the State} so as to ciaim tE'Vi.€':"'¥.}éeIr,l'et'!§ﬁou.r'-'lI;-:"V T'}1é";:are;:111b¥<:~ ten the Amending Acts indicates S243' "t::§3ject2"ve: the 2'cn1ovaI <31' discrixnistatiorz * 'ilattgliters i11}1e:re.nt $3 the tttitaksiiara co- .paV?{;;wi$1:'y and the e1'adis:ati<:>:; of the baneﬁzl sygtezxt .g:=f &owry by positive zxxeasures thus atnehoratizrg ""t¥2e cmlditémz cvfworztexx in the: hunzan sgaciety'. This £3 0:31}? at subsiciiafyf 0.2" c(>¥Iate2'ai objective and it came! be said that the ciassiﬁcation draw}: by the Amextding Acts bears 3. Ilaiiektlal reiatioxtship to the abjective sought £0 be achieved.

7:

32 said {:2 be alive and hence her right in succcssiunags a:Cn-1-p3.£caén¢f"'_.' has not opened. Tim heading 9:' s¢g:%iunA5 'i.i_sci"Fx§.}ot:h{ iiig1i;§alc'2 that ii 2:-onucrns ih-:2 interest £3. gwpﬁfcrggiaqr '"'dcw1\rt:" on tha daughter. '?}v;}'.c;v:§:_5<:;§*._é-V::" ﬁvm a pagan dying £0 3 The scape and ' [hat on and from the the daughter of a co-

parccncr in by birth become a co» parc:cnc?"__Aa:g._ same: rdghis and Iiabiﬁifcs as a sun, can o:ﬁ';:..'4b£:-.cui§as_iri.;;:£iu[§ér deciding {he sharcﬁxat dcsvulvcs un _ her v.a§1_<:I2 Lh-:.*»r righi'1u,sa..2.1:ccssiun up-ens, having regard to {he scape < an§§'am§;>E§._<§:£' iisczﬂ'.

.' A cxccpiiun that may be construed its avoiding {he 'Saliva ﬁjufa being rendered nugaiory is in ex circulnsiancc where £i1fl{3<'A.'A.{'I'£.)!'l'I {hes cumzmznccrncni mf Act 39 0132995, at 3 pdriiiiun 1:51 co- arvencrs the dam rhicfs ti vhi it; a share: b 1 way of 32 I3 E: E2 3 .

=$'m.:cessiun, as a cu-parucncr as rtsuogniscd undar Scctiun 6(1) uf ihc: Act, being kept in vicvug she might to be given ha: sham. Z 33 Yci anuihcr exccpﬁun wmzid be, as in {he prcscniﬁasc on hand, when the share uf ihc daughter was in {hat was alicnaicd prior in coming into force VqI :.'_3:u:l and before 20.12.2004. There is I}(:.)J ihg: ? Ewing enabled to question 1}1;:T'a4Iicna«Ei9_f£s and,' {if righi to a share uf the procced:§;"'cf'§?wnVV if {fie .f;}ig§1is"p1' bona-Ede ihird-party purchasesrs cji'-.i_I..ir: to be dizsiurbcd The aziiiwgz v;x§;-.;:p§ig5x12s z:1_"c~in nu manner in be laictzn as {he only cirL?t;1;1;¥.:i,:.::n£;L::_~:Vi}1.z;'x--';' §.Sé£2_;1'1'(I"'c:nai3§e a daughhzr {Q seek her share uf " pféjpcriy (men during the iii?--lime 0? her pm-asibirs to muiiipiy insmnccs.

avuwed object uf the law makers in having cnacicd V' VAcTi 2005 is negated by the srszious lacunae and ambiguity in ' {ha fcgislaiiun as observed by several learned azsihu-rs and juzisis. 34 A few of {busts ubscrvaliuns are: cuxnpiicd in an a:"i.ji:'§c by Parmindcr Kaur Kahion.

Sea: - "The Hinxiu Succession A0: and status of ~!:%:e_: "fFe--1"raa::ie:s «~ _-an Overview": Nyayadeep, --.

The 0ﬁiciaIJcn.tma.1o.fNALSA Volume Isszj2ej.nc.,_4 P, _9;9_ f In the result, lht: wrii pciii5§§i1..%is aﬂuweif, Scciiun 6(1}(c) uf the SAV:.£'¢':'<':-t'3$::.~'.;'i¢§VI"1"LAAmcriiimcrii Aci (Act

39./2005) insufar as ii dispuséiinns U1' alienati<;ii§ ;5ri:xfiV5to is violative of Article L4 and I6 ofindia and bears nu raiiunai nexus; {Q the ob_f;::c:£ of [fie z§g1§1t:£:<i3*fz'cniAcl. Sd/-r Judge *.nv_

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