Safeguarding the property rights of Hindu women in India: analyses of legislative and judicial efforts

Abstract

Abstract Under the traditional Hindu succession system, a Hindu woman did not possess any entitlement to ancestral property, which is a significant demonstration of social and economic discrimination. To clarify, Hindu women’s property rights in India were characterised by inequality and injustice. Nevertheless, through legislative and judicial endeavours, Hindu women in India have been granted the ability to own and possess property through inheritance—a step towards empowering them and creating economic sustainability in their lives. The present study examines the legislative and judicial initiatives aimed at granting parity to Hindu women by integrating them into the coparcenary system and conferring upon them the entitlement to inherit ancestral property. Thus enabling them to achieve economic self-reliance.