The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956
Bare Act
7. The natural guardianship of an adopted son who is a minor passes, on adoption, to the adoptive father and after him to the adoptive mother.
Simplified Act
When a boy is legally adopted, his new adoptive dad becomes his guardian. If the adoptive dad passes away, then the adoptive mom takes over as the guardian.
Explanation using examples
Imagine a couple, Ravi and Priya, who decide to adopt a young boy named Arjun. Arjun is only 4 years old, and upon the completion of the legal adoption process, Ravi becomes Arjun's legal guardian by virtue of being the adoptive father. This means Ravi is now responsible for Arjun's care, well-being, and legal decisions. According to Section 7 of The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, if Ravi were to pass away or become incapacitated, the guardianship would then naturally pass to Priya, the adoptive mother, without the need for further legal action.
