In Brief
A Christian intestate (John D. Abraham) died in 1964, leaving property and four children, including an adopted daughter and adopted son. One daughter later converted to Hinduism and married a Hindu, accepting monetary settlement for relinquishing her share. After her death in 1986, her Hindu heirs sued for partition, claiming her share. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding she had relinquished her claim. The High Court allowed the appeal. The Supreme Court partly allowed the appeals: while the Hindu heirs' claim was rejected (based on relinquishment), the adopted children were held entitled to equal shares alongside the surviving natural child, on the principle that adoption creates full succession rights under Christian law.
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