Apex court asks Hindu women to execute wills

The Supreme Court on Wednesday urged all Hindu women to execute wills to ensure their self-acquired and other properties devolve according to their wishes, even as it refused to decide a challenge to Section 15(1)(b) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — the provision that prioritises a woman's husband’s heirs over her parents if she dies intestate without children or a spouse.

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan said the recurring succession disputes reaching courts and the “heartburn” caused when a woman's self-acquired property bypasses her parents made it imperative for women to proactively safeguard their interests through wills.

“We appeal to all women and particularly all Hindu women, including those who may fall within Section 15(1) of the Act, to take immediate steps to make a testament or will. This is to avoid further litigation and to ensure their properties, including self-acquired ones, devolve according to their wishes,” the bench said.