The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, an amendment to the

Hindu Succession Act, 1956 The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to amend and codify the law relating to intestate or unwilled succession, among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. The Act lays down a uniform and comprehensive syste ...

, received the assent from President of India on 5 September 2005 and was given effect from 9 September 2005. It was essentially meant for removing gender stereotype provisions regarding property rights in the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. It was a revolutionary step in the field of Indian legislation regarding rights of women in India.

Key amendments

Amendment of section 4 of the principal Act

In section 4 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, sub-section (2) has been omitted.

Amendment of Section 6 of the principal Act

Section 6 in the principal act has been substituted by the amended provision. The amended provision under section 6 of the principal act in essence defines as follows:-ment of the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, the pious obligation of a son, grandson or great-grandson for the recovery of any debt due from his father, grandfather or great-grandfather under the Hindu law, came to an end

Exception

The amendment, under clause 5 of section 6 provides an exception as follows: * Nothing contained in this section shall apply to a partition, which has been effected before the 20th day of December, 2004. Explanation - For the purposes of this section "partition" means any partition made by execution of a deed of partition duly registered under the Registration Act, 1908 or partition effected by a decree of a court

Key features & effect

The amendment has tremendously balanced the property rights of male and female siblings. In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that the law has retrospective effect, and for the daughter to become a co-sharer with her male siblings, the father does not have to be alive on 9 September 2005. The Supreme Court also ruled that the amendment was applicable to all partition suits filed before 2005 and pending when the amendment was framed. * This amendment is in consonance with the right of equality as enshrined under Article 14, 15, & 21 of the constitution of India.

References

{{Reflist Acts of the Parliament of India 2005 Indian family law Women's rights in India Women's rights legislation