In Brief
A widow challenged the finding that she held only a life interest (not absolute ownership) in a house bequeathed to her by her late husband's will. The will explicitly gave the ground floor and first floor to their son and daughter as absolute owners, and granted the widow a life interest to reside and collect rental income during her lifetime. The widow argued her limited interest was enlarged to absolute ownership under Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act. The Supreme Court upheld both lower courts, holding that when a testator clearly grants only a restricted life estate to a widow in his will, Section 14(2) applies; the restricted estate does not enlarge into absolute ownership. Such testamentary disposition is valid and permissible under the Act.
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