Under Hindu personal law, what property rights does a widow have?
A When a male Hindu dies without writing a will, the succession to his property is not automatic and all the direct descendents-his widow, his sons, daughters, mother and other specified heirs-have to apply for succession under Class I of the Schedule of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. In the absence of a will, the wife takes her share as any other descendant and not as a widow. It’s important to note that a case of non-chastity against a Hindu widow is no ground under the Act for disqualification to succession of her husband’s estate. This rule is not applicable to a widow of the son or the grandson of the deceased. Unlike the widow of the deceased who has a right over the property, they are not entitled to the property if they remarry before the succession case opens before a court of law. Q Is a widow entitled to a share of her husband’s property if her husband embraces another religion like Islam? How does a Muslim widow inherit the property of her deceased husband? A There is an i
