In Brief
A widow's claim to become absolute owner of an ancestral property under Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, was examined. The widow (Bhonri Devi) had been in exclusive settled possession of ancestral HUF property, collecting rent from tenants, since before the Act's commencement in 1956. The Court held that a Hindu widow's right to maintenance is a tangible, pre-existing right under Shastri law flowing from the marital relationship. When such a widow holds exclusive settled possession of HUF property in lieu of maintenance and the surviving co-parcener earmarks no alternative property for this purpose, Section 14(1) automatically enlarges her limited interest into absolute ownership. No formal document or charge is required; possession coupled with pre-existing maintenance right suffices. The appeal was dismissed.
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