In Brief
This appeal concerns the interpretation of Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, which governs property rights of Hindu women. A widow was granted a life estate in property under her husband's will, which she subsequently sold. The Court found irreconcilable judicial divergence: one line of cases (starting with Tulasamma) holds that property granted to a woman in lieu of maintenance acquires absolute ownership despite restrictions; another (from Karmi onwards) holds that testamentary restrictions bind the woman. Rather than deciding the appeal, the Court referred the matter to the Chief Justice for constitution of a larger bench to reconcile these conflicting principles and clarify the law on women's property rights.
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