Section 15 of HSA : Section 15: General Rules Of Succession In The Case Of Female Hindus

Explanation using Example

Imagine a woman named Sita, a Hindu by religion, who passes away without leaving a will. According to Section 15 of The Hindu Succession Act, 1956, the distribution of her property would proceed as follows:

• If Sita had any children or a husband at the time of her death, they would be the first to inherit her property.
• If she did not have any children or a husband, the property would then go to the heirs of her husband.
• If there are no heirs of the husband, Sita's parents would be next in line to inherit.
• If the parents are also not alive, the property would go to the heirs of Sita's father.
• Finally, if there are no heirs on her father's side, the heirs of Sita's mother would be entitled to the property.

Furthermore, if Sita had inherited property from her own father or mother, and she did not have any children, that inherited property would go directly to her father's heirs, bypassing the usual order of succession.

Similarly, if she had inherited property from her husband or father-in-law, and had no children, that property would go directly to her husband's heirs.

In the state of Kerala, there's an additional provision that if Sita had inherited property from her pre-deceased son, that property would go to the heirs of the pre-deceased son rather than following the usual order of succession.