In Brief
A daughter belonging to a Scheduled Tribe community sought a share in land acquisition compensation as a legal heir under the Hindu Succession Act. The lower courts and High Court rejected her claim, relying on Section 2(2) of the Hindu Succession Act, which excludes Scheduled Tribes from its application. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that Section 2(2) remains binding law and Courts cannot amend it through interpretation. However, the Court expressed grave concern that denying equal succession rights to tribal daughters violates constitutional equality principles and is unjustifiable after 70 years. It recommended the Central Government reconsider the exemption and amend the Act to ensure tribal women receive equal inheritance rights as non-tribal women and tribal men.
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