Seventh Report On The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Bill, 2004

The earliest legislation bringing females into the scheme of inheritance is the Hindu Law of Inheritance Act, 1929. Subsequently, the Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, 1937 brought significant changes in the law of partition, alienation of property, inheritance and adoption. Although better rights were given to women in respect of property, it was found to be incoherent and defective in many respects and gave rise to a number of anomalies. The Law Commission of India after holding wide ranging consultations gave its recommendations in its 174th Report (ibid) relating to amendments to the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 in the form of a draft Bill titled the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Bill, 2000. The Central Government after consulting the State Governments and other concerned ministries/Departments of the Government of India decided to accept the recommendations of the Law Commission of India. Accordingly, the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Bill, 2004 has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha on the 20th of December, 2004. The Bill was referred to the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on 27 December 2004 for examination and report.