Holding

Section 14(2) is a limited‑purpose proviso; where a widow possesses a pre‑existing right of maintenance, Section 14(1) converts her life estate into absolute ownership, and the restrictive covenant in the will does not impede that conversion.

Summary

The Supreme Court examined three related suits in which widows held life estates in property under wills or settlement deeds. The core question was whether, under Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, such a limited estate automatically became an absolute estate, or whether Section 14(2) – which preserves a restrictive estate – barred that conversion. The Court held that Section 14(2) is a proviso that applies only when a woman acquires property for the first time without any pre‑existing right; where a widow already enjoys a right of maintenance (a pre‑existing right), Section 14(1) converts her limited estate into full ownership. The restrictive covenants in the wills were therefore overridden, and the widows became absolute owners after the Act came into force on 17 June 1956. Consequently, the appeals and the special leave petitions were dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether a widow's life estate granted under a will or settlement deed becomes an absolute estate under Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.
Whether Section 14(2) of the Act operates as an exception that prevents the conversion of such a life estate into absolute ownership.
Whether the provisions of Section 14(1) are retrospective and can affect instruments executed before the Act's commencement.

Legislation cited

Hindu Succession Act, 1956s. 14(1), s. 14(2)

Subjects

Hindu Succession ActSection 14widow's estatelife estateabsolute ownershiprestrictive covenantretrospective effectpre‑existing rightmaintenancegender equality

Judgment

THOTA SESHARATHAMMA AND ANR.
v. A
THOTA MANIKYAMMA (DEAD) BY LRS. AND ORS.

AUGUST 23, 1991

[N.M. KASLIWAL AND K. RAMASWAMY, JJ.] B

Hindu Succession Act, 1956--Section 14( 1), (2)-App/ication
and object of-Whether life estate of a widow under a will becomes
absolute estate.

Hindu Succession Act, 1956--Section 14( 1), (2)-Construction-
Whether retrospective-Acquisition of property by female Hindu- C
Methods-Widow's estate-L, 0 u1te's entitlement-Whether restrictive
cu1·en1111t stands as impedin1ent to section 14( /).

Will-Widow ·s estate-Resttictions--'-Right to maintenance-Pre-
e.u;//ng right over the property-"Res ad rem'-Obliteration of testa- D
111entar.J· succession with restrictive conditions w.e.f. 17.6.1956 by
i11!1llll Siiccesswn Act, 1956--Ejjecl of

C.A. 630 of 1981.

Plaintiff's case was that as the defendant and her husband had no E
issue they brought up the plaintiff as their foster son from the age of
eight years and thereafter the plaintiff continued to live with them and
was brought up treating him as their own son.

Defendant's husband died on 14.1.1932 and before his death he
executed a will beq\)eathing the suit properties in favour of his wife, for F
her life with a vested remainder in favour of the plaintiff.

Both the parties lived together with perfect understanding but
after some time there was misunderstanding and the defendant assumed
hostile attitude towards the plaintiff and began to claim the suit pro-
perty as her absolute property. G

· The plaintiff claimed absolute right in the suit properties after the
lifetime of the defendant and challenged the right of the defendant to
execute any will in respect of the suit properties.

The defem•e 1t look the plea that her husband died issueless and H

717
718 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1991] 3 S.C.R.

intestate and did not .execnte any will at any time. Neither she nor her
A
hnsband brought up the plaintiff as their foster son nor did they educate
him. The defendant had brought up her nephew from his childhood and
performed his marriage. On account of love and affection for him and
his children, the defendant executed a registered will on 26.10.69
bequeathing all her properties in his favour.
B
The Trial Court held the will dated 14.1.1932 proved and decreed
the plaintiff's suit.

The First Appellate Court upheld the Judgment and decree of
theTrial Court.
c The defendant preferred a second appeal in the High Court. Dur-.
ing the pendeocy of the Second Appeal in the High Court the plaintiff
died and his legal representatives were brought on record. The High
Court allowed the second appeal.

D The legal representatives of the plaintiff came to this Coor! by
grant of Special Leave.

S.L.P. (C) No. 438/ 1979. ·~.

Married life between '0' and his wife, 'M' was not happy and
E cordial. '0' executed a registered will dated 21.3.1921 bequeathing all
his properties including the suit properties in favour of his mother and
sister for their li.fetime and thereafter in favour of 'R' and 'D'-two sons
of his sister and their issues. In the said will reference was made regard-
ing the conduct of 'M' in deserting him and in any event if she changed
her mind and agreed to live under the protection of the legatees she was
p allowed to enjoy the income from item I of the suit properties and that
she should construct a house in item referred to in the will and to .live
there during her lifetime and after her death the said Item I and the
house site with the ho.use shall go to his sister's sons.

'0' died in 1922 and thereafter the legatees under the will entered
G into possession of all the properties. 'M' put obstruction to the legatee~
in getting possession.

'M' filed a suit in 1923 praying for a declaration that the will made
by her husband was not valid and as such be cancelled and for possession
and mesne profits and in the alternative she claimed for maintenance
H both past and future.
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA 719

In the said suit the parties entered into a compromise and a com-
A
promise decree was passed on 5.3.1924.

Uoder the terms of the said compromise the execution of the will
was accepted and the same was made subject to the terms of the com-·
promise decree. Under the compromise decree it was agreed that ;M'
would enjoy items l & 2 of the properties mentioned in the will and also B
SO cents of land during her lifetime. She would also have an enjoyment
of the house site during her lifetime without any right of alienation.

'D' died unmarried in 1930 but during his lifetime h.e sold his
interest in the properties in favour of'R', his brother, who died in 1962.
On his death the petitioners being his sons and daughters claimed to
have become entitled for all their father's properties including the c
rights in the suit property. 'M' during her life time executed a settle-
ment deed in favour of the respondents giving absolute rights in the suit
properties.

The petitioners filed a suit against M and the respondents for o
declaration that the settlement deed executed by 'M' will not enure
beyond the lifetime of 'M'. 'M' took the plea that the limited interest
.·~.
given to her under the compromise decree had become enlarged into
· absolute right by virtue of Section 14(1) of the Act.

The Trial Court decreed the suit and it was affirmed in first E
appeal.

l. 'M' having died, the respondents preferred a.second appeal in the
High Court. The High Court allowed the second appeal against which,
the petiti?ners filed the S.L.P.

S. L. P. (C) No. 2113 of 1980

·'R'did not have any issue from 'A' and 'S', bis wives. He being
attached with the petitioner, executed a will on 2.7.1945 bequeathing
his properties in favour of his second wife 'S' for her lifetime and
. thereafter, absolutely in favour of the petitioner. A provision was also G
made for the payment of Rs.68 and a direction to make available 18
kalams of paddy in favour of' A' for her lifetime. In order to ensure the
payment of the maintenance and delivery of paddy a charge was also
created over the properties to go ultimately in favour of the petitioner.

As the petitioner was a minor at that time the second wife was H
720 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1991] 3 S.C.R.

appointed as his guardian. 'R' died on 8. 7.45 and subsequently his firs£
A
wife 'A' was awarded 50 kalarns of paddy and a sum of Rs.250 in cash
per annum by way of maintenance.

On appeal the High Court modified the decree of the Trial Court
and enhanced the maintenance to Rs.480 per annum and directed the
B petitioner, the legatee under the will to give one building for the resi-
dence of' A'. Thereafter in 1951 'A' sought the recovery of possession of
one of the buildings. The Executing Court allotted to her the eastern
house backyard and the shops, against which the second wife preferred
an appeal to the High Court.

A compromise was entered into between the parties in the High \.
c Court. According to the terms of compromise 'A' was permitted to
occupy the eastern house together with the two shops but the backyard
portion was not given. Later on 'S' was removed from the guardianship
of the petitioner, and natural father was appointed as his guardian.

D The respondents were brother's grandsons of 'A' who died on
2.2.1966, had settled the suit properties in favour of one 'C' claiming title
to the same in pursuance to a compromise in A.A.O. 5'67 of 1950. 'R'
another respondent initially took on le!IS!' the properties from 'C' and ·<
later on purchased the eastern half of the building and backyard
portion.
E
The petitioner, challenging the transactions on the grounds that
'A' was given a right of residence only in the building and the same
lasted till her lifetime and such right could never be enlarged into an .ij
absolute right; that the settlement deed made by her in favour of 'C' ~
and the sale made by 'C' in favour of 'R', a respondent were invalid and no
F title could be conveyed by 'A' in their favour, filed a suit for recovery of
possession of the suit properties with mesne profits.

The Trial Court held that 'A' was not the absolute owner of !he
suit properties as contemplated under Section 14(2) of the Act and
decreed the suit in favour of the plaintiff.
G
Single Judge of the High Court dismissed the appeal. On a Letters
Patent Appeal the Division Bench of the High Court allowed the appeal
and dismissed the snit.

The plaintiff-petitioner has filed the S.t.P. under Article 136 of
H the Constitution oflndia.
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA 721

Whether, the life estate given to a widow under the will of her A
husband becomes an absolute estate under the provisions of the Hindu
Succession Act was the controversy raised in these cas·· '·

The contmtion raised was that if a female Hindu acquires any
property under a will which gives her a restricted estate in such pro-
perty then provisions of sub-section (2) will override, the provisions of a
sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the Act which makes a female Hindu as
fuUowner.

· Dismissing the appeal and the S.L.Ps. this Court,

HELD: PER N.M. KASLlWAL, J. nn his behalf and on behalf of K.
RAMASWAMY, J. c
1. Sec. 14(2) of the Aci is in the nature of a proviso or an excep-
tion to Sec. 14 and comes into operation only if acquisition in any of the
methods indicated therein is made for the first time without there being
any pre-existing right in the female Hindu to the property. If the case D
falls under the provisions of Sec. 14(1) of the Act then the female Hindu
shall be held to be full owner of the property and sub-section (2) of
Section 14 will only apply where the property is acquired without there
being any pre-existing right of the female Hindu in such property. (7300-E]

2. Sub-section (2) of Sec. 14 will be construed more in the nature E
of a proviso or an exception to sub-s. (1) of Sec. 14 of the Act. This view
lends support to the object of the section which was to remove the
disability on women imposed by law and to achieve a social purpose by
bringing about change in the social and economic position of women in
Hindu society. [730E-F]
F
Mst. Karmi v. Amru and Ors .. [1972] 4 SCC 86; Badri Pershad v.
Smt. Kanso Devi, [1970] 2 SCR 95; V. Tulsamma & Ors. v. Sesha
Reddy (dead) by L.Rs., ll977] 3 SCR 26l; Bai Vajia (dead) by L.Rs. v.
Thakorbhai Chelabhai & Ors., [1979] 3 SCR 291; Jagannath Pillai v.
Kunjithapadam Pillai & Ors., [1987] 2 SCC 572; Gopal Singh & Anr.
v. Dill Ram (dead) by L.Rs. & Ors., [1988] l SCC 47; Gu/want Kaur G
and Others v. Mohinder Singh and Others, [1987] 3 sec 674 and
Jaswant Kaur v. Major Harpal Singh, [1989] 3 SCC 572, referred to.

PERK. RAMASWAMY. J.

1. The Act revolutionised the status of a Hindu female; used H
722 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1991] 3 S.C.R.

A s. 14(1) as a tool to undo past injustice to elevate her to equal status with
dignity of person on par with man; extinguished pre-existing limitation
of woman's estate, or wid~w's estate known to Shastric law removed all
. the fetters to blossom the same into full ownership. The discrimination
suffered by Hindu female under Shastric law was exterminated by
B legisiative fiat. The social change thus envisaged must be endeavoured
to be given full vigour, thrust and efficacy. [739F-G]

2. Section 14(1) enlarges the restricted estate into full ownership
when the Hindu female has pre-existing right to maintenance etc. Sub-
sec. (2) operates when the grant was made for the first time under the
document with no pre-existing right. Sub sec. (2) therefore, must be
.....
c read as an exception or a proviso to sub-sec. (1). Both the sub-sections ~
read with the explanation to be pragmaticably considered as a con-
stituent integral scheme. [739G-740A]

3. S. 1.4 is not retroactive in its operation. Devolution of the pro-
D perty under the will would take effect after the demise of the testator
and the legatee would be bound by the terms of gift over etc. The
stranger legatee cannot take shelter under subsequent change of law to
enlarge the operation of restrictive covenant to claim absolute owner-
...
ship in the property be11ueathed to her. But socio-economic ameliora- ~.
lion under the Act engulfs an instrument under the sweep of s. 14(1)
thereof, it extinguishes lhe pre-existing limited estate or restrictive con-
E
dition and confer absolute and full ownership of the property possessed
by a Hindu female as on the date when the Act had come into force,
namely, June 17, 1956. The courts are not giving retrospective opera-
lion to s. 14(1) or to the instrument. The courts only would be applying

F
the law to the facts found as on the date when the question arose to find
whether legatee has pre-existing vistage of title under law; and the nature i--\
of possession of the property held by her and whether the legatee would
get the benefit of s. 14(1) of the Act. There need be no express recital
even in the will of the enjoyment of the property devised under the will
in lieu or maintenance as a limited owner for her. life. Even if so
mentfoned, it would be a reflection or restatment of the law existing as
G
in 1932 when the will was executed. [740G-741C]

4. A legatee under a testamentary disposition is bound by the
restrictive covenants contained therein. But distinction should be
.,,_
maintained between an ordinary legatee and a legatee/Hindu fen.tale
coupled with vistage of pre-existing title to the property but wil!h a
H limited estate known lo Shastric law. [740F-G)
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA 723

5. As per existing law as in 1932 the widow as a legatee was A
entitled to widow's estate and she remained in possession of the date of
the Act came into force and was in enjoyment of the income derived
therefrom for her life. No one had a right to interdict it. The restrictive
covenant, therefore, does not stand an impediment to s. 14(1) to have
full play to extinguish the same and enlarge the limited e.state of widow
into an absolute ownership. [7410-E) B

6. The restrictions contained in the will, though falls both under
sub-sec. (2) as well as snb-sec. (1) of s, 14, the right to maintenance
_bein~ a pre-existing right over property "res ad rem" s. 14(1) would
apply. The testamentary ~ with a restrictive conditions in the will was
obliterated. She became absolute owner on or after June 17, 1956. [741E·F)
c
Sir Main Henry: Earlier History of Institutions, at P. 339; E.S.
Shivaswamy Iyer: Revolution of Hindu Women, [1935) Edn. P. 64;
Manu Smriti, Chapter III verses 55-57, Chapter IX verses 18, 149, 45,
416, 299, Chapter XI verse 67; Mahatma Gandhiji's (article) Young
India. dated October 17. 1929; Ravindra Nath Tagore, (his speech in. D
1913 reprinted in) To the'women, P. 18. The Position of Woman in
Hindu civilisation, 1955 Edn. By Altaken, referred to.
State of Madras v. Srimati Chal[lpakam Dorairajan. [1951) SCR
525; C.B. Muthamma v. Union of India & Ors., [i980) 1SCR668; Air
India v. Nergesh Meerza & Ors., [19821 1 SCR 438; Pratap Sinf!.h
v. Union of India, ll985) Suppl. 2 SCR 773; Seth Badri Prasad v. Smt. E
Kanso Devi, [1969) 2 SCR 586; V. Tulasanima v. Sesha Reddy (dead)
by L.Rs., [1977) 3 SCR 261; Bai Vajia (dead) by L.Rs. v. Thakorbhai
Chela/)hai & Ors., [1979) 3 SCR 291; Jagannathan Pillai v. Kunithapa-
dam Pillai & Ors., [1987) 2SCR1070; Gu/want Kaur & Anr. v. Mohin-
der Singh & Anr., [1987) 3 SCR 576; Maharaja Pillai Lakshmi Amma/
v. Maharaja Pillai Thillanayakom Pillai & Anr., [1988) 1 SCR 730; F
laswant Kaur v. Major Harpa/ Singh, [1989) 3 SCC 572; Munshi Singh
v. Smt. Sohan Bai (dead) by L.Rs., [1989) 2 SCR 1012; Pearey Lal v.
Rameshwar Das, [1963) Suppl. 2 SCR 834; Karmi·v. Amru, AIR 1971 SC
745 and Kalawatibai v. Soiryabai & Ors., [1991) 3 S_CC 410, referred to.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 630 G
of 1981.
From the Judgment and Decree dated 24.8.1979 of the Andhra
Pradesh High Court in Second Appeal No. 358 of 1977.
WITH
H
S.L.P. Nos. 438/79 & 2113/80.
724 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1991] 3 S.C.R.

T.S. Krishnamurty Iyer, G. Narasimhalu. G.S. Narayana, K.
A Ram Kumar, Mrs. Anjani, Mrs. J. Ramachandran, T.T. Kunhikan-
nan, S. Srinivasan and A.T.M. Sampath for the appearing parties.
{. . .
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

B KASLIWAL, J. In the above appeal and Special Leave Petitions
questipn has been raised about the ambit and scope of Sec. 14(1) and
14(2) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as the
'Act'). Before adverting to the legal question, it would be proper to
narrate in short the facts of each case.

Civil Appeal No. 630 of 1981
c
Thota Madhav Rao, the plaintiff filed ·a suit against Thota
Manikyamma on the allegation that the plaintiff's father Yellamanda
and the defendant's husband Late Venkata Subbayya·were brothers.
As the defendant and her husband had no issue they brought up the
D plaintiffas their foster son from the age of eight years and thereafter
the plaintiff continued to live with them and was brought up treating
him as their own son. Venkata Subb~yya died on 14.1.1932 and before
his death he executed a will beq ,,cathing the suit properties'.in favour
of his wife Smt. Thota Manikyamma for her life with a vested remain-
der in favour of the plaintiff. Both the parties lived together with
E perfect understanding but after some time there was misunderstanding
and the defendant assumed hostile attitude towards the plaintiff and
began to claim the suit property as her absolute property. the
defendant also executed a registered will on 26.10.69 bequeathing the
suit properties in favour of one Ramisetti Koteswar Rao. T\te plaintiff ·j..
in these circumstances claimed absolute right in. the suit properties
f' after the lifetime of the defendant and challenged the right of the
defendant to execute any will in respect of the suit properties. The
defendant took the plea that her husband died issueless and intestate
and did not execute any will at any time. Neither she nor her husband
brought up the plaintiff as their foster son nor did they educate him.
The defendant had brought up Ramisetti Koteswar Rao, who is her
G nephew, from his childhood and performed his marriage. On account of
love and affection for him and his children, the defendant executed a
registered will on 26.10.69 bequeathing all her properties in his favour..
The Trial Court held the will dated 14.1.1932 proved and decreed the
plaintiff's suit. The First Appellate Court upheld the Judgment and
decree of the Trial Court. The defendant preferred a second appeal in
H the High Court. During the pendency of the Second Appeal in the
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA [KASLIWAL. J.J 725

High Court the plaintiff died and his legal representatives were
A
brought on record. The High Court by Judgment dated 24.8.1979
allowed the second appeal and dismissed the suit with costs throughout.
--t The legal representatives of the plaintiff have come to this Court by
grant of special leave. The question \nvolved is whether the life
interest in the property acquired by Thota Manikyamma under the will
executed by her husband and continued to be in her possession became B
her absolute property under' Sec. 14(1) of the Act.

Special Leave Petition (C) No. 438 of 1979

~·
One Meenammal is the wife of Ovi Reddiar. Married life bet-
ween Ovi Reddiar and his wife was not happy and cordial. Ovi Red-
diar executed a registered will exhibit A-4 dated 21.3.1921 bequea- c
thing all his properties including the suit properties in favour of his
mother and sister for their lifetime and thereafter in favour ,,f
Ramalinga Reddiar and Dhanush Koti Reddiar, the two sons of his
sister and their issues. In the said will reference was made rer;arding
the conduct of Meenammal in deserting him and in any event if she D
changed her mind and agreed to live under the protection of the.

l",-
legatees she was allowed to enjoy the income from item I of the suit
properties and that she should construct a house in item referred to in
the will and to live there during her lifetime and after her death the
said Item I and the house site with the house shall go to the above
mentioned Ramalinga Reddiar and Dhanush Koti Reddiar. E
Ovi Reddiar died in 1922 and thereafter the legatees under the
will entered into possession of all the properties. Smt. Meenammal put

l obstruction to the legatees in getting possession.

There was some criminal litigation between Smt. Meenammal F
and the legatees under Sec. 145 Cr.P.C. which resulted in favour of the
legatees (exhibit A-1). Smt. Meenammal then filed a suit in 1923 pray-
ing for a declaration that the will made by her husband was not valid
and as such be cancelled and for possession and mesne profits and in
the alternative she claimed for maintenance both past and future. In
the said suit the parties entered into .a compromise and a compromise G
...._ decree was passed on 5 .3.1924, vide (exhibit A-1). Under the terms of
said compromise the execution of the will was accepted and the same
was made subject to the terms of the compromise decree. Under the
compromise decree it was agreed that Smt. Meenammal would enjoy
items 1 & 2 of the properties mentioned in the will and also 50 cents of
land during her lifetime. She would also have an enjoyment of the H
726 5\;PRf.ME COURT REPORTS [1991] 3 S.C.R.

A house site during he, 1;. i.mc without any right of alienation. Dhanush
Koti died unmarriecl i11 ·1.1.1 but during his lifttime he sold his interest
in the properties in fa HM. of Ramalinga Reddiar. Ramalinga Reddiar
. died in 1962. On his dGatll the petitioners before this Court being the
sons and daughters of Ramalinga Reddiar daimed to have become • {....
B entitled for all the properties of Ramalinga Reddiar including the
rights in the suit property. Smt. Meenammal during her lifetime
executed a settlement deed in favour of the respondents before this
Court giving absolute rights in the suit oroputies. The petitioners
before this Court filed a suit against Smt. Meenammal and the respon-
dents for declaration that the settlement deed (exhibit A-10) executed
hy Smt. Meenammal will not enure beyond the lifetime of Smt.
c Meenammal. Smt. Meenammal contested the suit and took the plea ....
that the limited interest given to her under the compromise decree had 'i
become enlarged into absolute right by virtue of Section 14(1) of the
Act. The Trial Court decreed the suit and it was affirmed in first
appeal. Smt. Meenammal having died, the respondents in this COurt
D preferred a second appeal in the High Court of Judicature at Madros.
The High Court allowed the Second Appeal and dismissed.the suit filed
by the petitioners. The petitioners in these circumstances have filed the '
S. L.P. under Article 136 of the Constitution ofindia.

S.L.P. (C) No. 2113 of 1980
E
The suit properties as well as some other properties originally
belonged to one Ramalinga Udayar. He had two wives, namely,
Alamolu and Saraswati. the first wife Alamolu was living awa~ from
her husband. Ramalinga dtd not have any issue from both the wives.
Ramalinga being attached with one Siva Subramania the petitioner
before us executed a will on 2. 7. 1945 bequeathing his properties in
F
favour of his second wife Saraswati for her lifetime and thereafter,
absolutely in favour of Siva Subramania. A provision was also made
for the payment of Rs.68 and a direction to make available 18 kalams
of paddy in favour of Alamolu for her lifetime. In order to ensure the
payment of the maintenance and delivery of paddy a charge was also
created over the properties to go ultimately in favour of Siva Sub-
G
ramania Udayar. As Siva Subramania Udayar was a minor at that time
the second wife Smt. Saraswati was appointed as his guardian.
Ramalinga died on 8.7.45 and subsequently his first wife Alamolu was
awarded 50 kalams of paddy and a sum o!Rs.250 in cash per annum by
way of maintenance. On appeal the High Court modified the decree of
H the Trial Court and enhanced the maintenance to Rs.480 per annum
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA IKASLIWAL, J.) 727

and directed Siva Subramania the legatee under the will to give one
A
building for the residence of Alamolu. Thereafter in 1951 Alamolu
sought the recovery of possession of one of the buildings and the
Executing Court allotted to her the eastern house backyard and the
shops. The second wife Saraswati preferred an appeal to the High
Court against the above order of the executing court. A compromise
was entered into between the parties in the High Court. According to B
the terms of compromise Alamolu was permitted to occupy the eastern
house together with the two shops but the backyard portion was not
given. Alamolu, however remained in possession of that portion as
well, where some coconut trees were standing. Lateron Saraswati was
removed from the guardianship of Siva Subramania Udayar, and
natural father was appointed as his guardian. Alamolu died on
2.2.1966. The respondents before us are brother's grandsons of c
Alamolu. Alamolu settled the suit properties in favour of one
Chandrashekhar Udayar claiming title to the same in pursuance to a
compromise in A.A.0. 567 of 1950. Ramayya Mudaliar another
respondent before us initially took on lease the properties from
Chandrashekhar and lateron purchased the eastern half of the building D
and backyard portion. Siva Subramania Udayar challenged these
transactions on the grounds that Alal)lolu was given a right of resi-
dence only in the building and the same lasted till her lifetime and such
• right could never be enlarged into an absolute right. The settlement
deed made by her in favour of Chandrashekhar Udayar and the sale
made by Chandrashekhar in favour of Ramaiah were invalid and no E
title could be conveyed by Alamolu in their favour. Siva Subramania
U dayar as such filed a suit for recovery of possession of the suit pro-
perties with mesne profits. The Trial Court held that Alamolu was not
the absolute owner of the suit properties as contemplated under
Section 14(2) of the Act. The suit as such was decreed in favour of the
plaintiff Siva Subramania Udayar. Learned Single Judge of the High F
Court dismissed the appeal. On a Letters Patent Appeal the Division
Bench of the High Court allowed the appeal and dismissed the suit.
The plaintiff Siva Subramania Udayar has filed the S.L.P. under Arti-
cle 136 of the Constitution of India.

The controversy raised in these cases is almost settled by a G
number of decisions of this Court. However, Learned counsel for the
appellant in the appeal as well as Learned counsel for the petitioners in
the Special Leave Petitions have raised an argument, placing reliance,
on Mst. Karmi v. Amru and Ors., [ 1972] 4 SCC 86 that the life estate
given to a widow under the will of her husband cannot become an
absolute estate under the provisions of the Hindu succession Act, as H
728 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1991] 3 S.C.R.

such we consider it proper to deal with this case in the light of other
A
cases decided by this Court. Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act,
1956 reads as under:

14"(1) Any property possessed by a female Hindu, whether
acquired before or after the commencement of this Act,
8 shall be held by her as full owner thereof and not as a
limited owner.

Explanation--In this sub-section, "property" includes both
movable and immovable property acquired by a female
Hindu by inheritance or devise, or at a partition, or in lieu
of maintenance or arrears of maintenance, or by gift from
c any person. Whether'a relative or not, before, at or after.
her marriage, or by her own skill or exertion, or by pur-
cbase or by prescription, or in any other manner what-
soever, and also any such property held by her as stridhana
immediately before the commencement of this Act.
D
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply
to any property acquired by way of gift or under a will or
any other instrument or under a decree or order or a civil
court or under an award where the terms of the gift, will or
other instrument or the decree, order or award prescribe a
E restricted estate in such property".

The contention raised is that if a female Hindu acquires any property
under a will which gives her a restricted estate in such property then
provisions of sub-section (2) will override, the provisions of sub-
section (1) of Section 14 of,the Act which makes a female Hindu as full
J .~
F owner.
In Badri Persiuzd v. Smt. Kan.so Devi, [1970] 2 SCR 95 a Bench
of three Judges considered the questio!1 in detail. In the above case a
Hindu having self acquired properties, died in 1947 leaving five sons
and a widow. On a dispute between the parties an Arbitrator was
G appointed in 1950. The Arbitrator gave an award and a decree was
passed in terms of award. Under the award the widow was given
widow's estate. It was held that the widow inherited the property
under Section 3 (1) of the Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, 1937
and was in possession of it within the meaning of the word possession
in Section 14( 1) of the Act and when by an award her share was
H separated by metes and bounds, she also acquired the property within
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA [KASLIWAL, J.[ 729

the meaning of that section. It was held that she had become full owner
A
of the property in her possession under Section 14(i) on the coming
into force of the Hindu Succession Act, even though previously she
. .:t-
was a limited owner.

It was clearly held in the above case that Section 14(2) of the Act
is in the nature of a proviso or an exception to Section 14( 1) and comes B
into operation only if acqu,isiti!>n in any of the methods indicated
therein is made for the first time without there being any pre-existing
right in .the female Hindu to the property. The Bench consisted of
Hon. J.C. Shah, V. Ramaswamy andA.N. Grover, JJ.
"" ..( The case of Mst. Karmi v·. Amru and Others, (supra) .on which
reliance has now been placed by Learned Counsel for the appellant
c
and petitioners was also decided by a Bench of three Judges Hon. J.C.
Shah, K.S. Hegde and A.N. Grover, JJ. It may be noted that two
Hon'ble Judges, namely, J.C. Shah and A.N. Grover were common to
both the cases. In Mst. Karmi v. Amru an4 Others,. one Jaimal died in
1938 leaving his wife Nihali. His son Ditta pre-deceased him. Appel- D
#. !ant in the above case was the daughter of Ditta and the respondents
were collaterals of Jaimal. J aimal first executed a will dated 18.12.1935
....., and by a subsequent will dated 13.11.1937 revoked the first will. By
the second will a life estate was given to Nihali and thereafter the
property was made to devolve on Bhagtu and Armu collaterals. On the
death of Jaimal in· 1938, properties were mutuated in the uame of E
Nihali. Nihali died in 1960/61. The appellant Mst. Karmi claimed right
on the basis of a will dated 25.4.1958 executed by Nihali in h.er favour.
__ \ It was held that the life estate given to a widow under the will of her
husband cannot become an absolute estate under the provisions of the
Hindu Succession Act. Thereafter, the appellant cann~t claim title to
the properties on the basis of the will executed by the Widow Nihali in F
her favour. It is a short Judgment without adverting to any provisions
of Sections 14(1) or 14(2) of .the Act. The Judgment neither makes any
mention of any argument raised in this regard nor there is any mention
of the earlier decision in Badri Pershad v. Smt. Kanso Devi, (supra}.
The decision in Mst. Karmi & Anr. cannot be considered as an autho-
rity on the ambit and scope of Sections 14( I} and (2) of the Act. G
'-'-
The controversy regarding sub-Section (1) and (2) of Section 14
of the Act again came up for consideration in V. Tu/samma & Ors. v.
V. Sesha Reddy (dead) by Lrs., [1977] 3 SCR 261. This case was also.
decided by a Bench of three Judges. In this case the controversy now
raised before us was considered in detail. All the earlier cases were H
730 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 199 · S.C.R.

A
considered including Badri Prasad v. Smt. Kanso Devi, (supra) and the
ratio of this case was followed and approved in V. Tulsamma'; case.
Hon'ble Bhagwati, J. who wrote the leading judgment dealt with the
question in detail and after applying the mind to the controversy
decided the same in a well considered manner. V. Tulsamma'; case
again was discussed in extenso and followed in Bai Vajia (dead) b)\
B L.Rs. v. Thakorbhai Chelabhai & Ors., (1979] 3 SCR 291, by a Bench
of three Judges. The same view has been consistently adopted in long
series of cases of this Court and to mention a few of them are Jagan-
nathan Pillai v. Kunjithapadam Pillai & Ors., [ 1987] 2 SCC 572; Copa/
Singh & Anr. v. Dill Ram (dead) by L.Rs. & Ors., (1988] 1SCC47;
Gu/want Kaur and Others v. Mohinder Singh and Others, (1987] 3 SCC
674 andlaswant.Kaurv. Major Harpal Singh, (1989] 3 SCC 572.
c
A mention of all the above cases shows that this Court in a long
series of cases has taken a consistent view that Sec. 14(2) of the Act is
in the nature of a proviso or an exception to Sec. 14 and comes into
operation only if acquisition in any of the methods indicated therein is
D made for the first time without there being any pre-existing right in the
female Hindu to the property. If the case falls under the provisions of
Sec. 14( 1) of the A~t then the female Hindu shall be held to be full
owner of the property and sub-section (2) of Section 14 will only apply
where the property is acquired without there being any pre-existing
right of the female Hindu in such property. Thus we aftirm and rei-
E terate that sub-section (2) of Sec. 14 will be construed more in the
nature of a proviso or an exception to sub-s. ( 1) of Sec. 1:, of the Act.
This view lends support to the object of the section which was to
remove the disability on women imposed by law and to achieve a social
purpose by bringing about change in the social and economic position
of women in Hindu society.
F
In the result we find no force in all the above cases and the same
are dismissed with cost.

K. RAMASWAMY, J. I have had the advantage to read the
draft judgment of my learned brother. I fully agree with the reasoning
G and conclusions. The repeated attempts to reopen the ratio in 4
Tulasamma's case, in particular, from its proponent i.e. Sri Krishna
Murthy Iyar made me to tread the route through which I reached the
same result thus:

Sir Main Henry in his "Earlier History of Institutions" at p. 339
H stated that, "the degree in which personal immunity and proprietary
SESHARATHAMMA 11. MANIKYAMMA [RAMASWAMY, J.] 731

capacity of women are recognised in a particular state or community is
A
a test of the degree of the advance of its civilisation . It is, therefore,
clear that the esteem in which woman is held, the status occupied by
her in society and the treatment meted out to her are regarded as index
to the degree of civilisation and culture attained in a country. Manu in
his Smriti, Chapter III Verses 55 to 57 stated that where women are
honoured and adorned there Gods are pleased, but where women are B
not honoured no sacred fire yields rewards. What is the status held by
women in the H indu society is a matter of history reflected from Vedic
culture, Smrities, the Shastric law, the statutory privision and ulti-
mately converged and recognised in the supreme law of the land, i.e.
egalitarian socialist Indian Constitution.

E.S. Shivaswamy Iyer in his "Revolution of Hindu Women," 1935 · C
Edn. p. 64 stated that the ideals of the society as to womanhood
includes not merely the relations of husband and wife or mother and
children or the other intimate relationship of family life, but also the
notions we find about her capacity, her character, her claim to equality,
independence and freedom for developing, her rights to personal own- D
ership and control of property, to the choice of her vocation and other
rights as well as duties as member of the society. Status and rights of
Hindu woman fluctuated and swung like a pendulum with ups and
downs from period to period starting from 4000 B.C. uptodate. How,
ever esteem for women remained constantly high in the society .
E
In Vedic society woman en joyed equal status economically,
socially and culturally with men, vide p. 335, 339 and 409 of The Posi-
tion of Woman in Hindu Civilization, 1955 Edn. by Altakar. He stated
that initiation to education upanayanam was performed in Vedic period
to the girls as well as boys. Women studied the Vedas, even composed
Vedic rhymes. They participated in public life freely. Vishvavara, ,..p
Apala, Lopamudra and Shashayasi are only few examples in the initial
Vedic period. Thereafter Ghosha, Maitrai and Gargi occupied price of
place for equality in intellectual excellence and equal status with men.
Selfishness and male chauvanism made woman to gradually degrade
and were given no voice even in the settlement of their marriages or so
on . She was denied participation in public affairs. Though Yajnaval- G .
kya was a proponent to her economic status but ultimately Manu
Smriti took firm hold and in Chapter IX Verse 18, Manu stated that
woman had no right to study the Vedas. Thereby, denied the right to
education, fundamental human right to acquire knowledge and
cultural and intellectual excellence. In Chapter IX Verse 149, he ·
stated that woman must not seek separation from father, husband or J.I
. 732. SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1991] 3 S.C.R .

. son and bondaged her for ever. In Chapter IX Verse 45, the husband
A
was declared to be one· with the wife that the wife can seek no divorce
but allowed immunity to a male· to discard an unwanted wife. All
through the ages till Hindu Marriage Act was made a male was allowed
polyandry. In Chapter IX Verse 416, he stated that a wife, a son and a
slave are declared to have no property and if they happened to acquire
B it would belong to male under whom she is in protection. Thus she was
denuded or her right to property or incentive to decent and.indepen-
dent living and made her. a dependent only to rare children and bear
the burdens·. When she becomes a widow, she was declared to have
only maintenance and if in po-ssession of her husband's property or
coparcenery, to be a widow's estate with reversionery right to the heirs
of last male holder. Fidality was a condition precedent to receive
c maintenance. In Chapter IX Verse 299, he prescribed corporeal
punishment to a wife who commits faults, should be beaten.with a rope
or a- split bamboo. If she was murdered it was declared to be an
Up:ipattaka that is a minor offence vide Chapter XI Verse 67. I did not
adhere to literal translation but attempted to portray their sweep and
D deep incursion on social order. Thus laid firm fouridation to deny a
Hindu female of equality of status, opportunity and dignity of person
with no independent right to property and made her a subservient,'
socially, educationally and cillturally. Widows were murdered by inhu-
man Sati and now by bride burnings. -

E Gautam Budha gave her equality of staius and opportunity.
Efforts of social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Rai, Kandukuri
Veeresalingam and a host of other enlightened made the British Rulers
gradually to make statute law, given her right to separate residence
and maintenance and a right over property o( her husband or joint
family for mainteriance and a charge by a decree of court. Mahatma
_1
F Gandhiji, the father of the nation, in Young India on October 17,
1929 had written thus: "I am uncompromising in the matters of
women's rights: In my opinion she should live 'under no legal disabi-
lity, no suffenng by men, we should treat the daughters and sons on
the footing of. perfect equality": Shri Ravindra Nath Tagore, _the
Noble laureate in his speech in 1913 reprinted in "To the Women" at
G page 18 stated "that women is the champion of man, gifted with equal
mental capacity. She has a right to participate in any minutest activity
of men and she has equal.right of freedom and liberty with him".

The Constitution of India accords socio-economic and political
· justice, equality of status and of opportunity a·ssuring the dignity of
!fl person with stated freedoms. Article 14 gu~rantees__equality. In, other .
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANJKYAMMA [RAMASWAMY, J.I 733

words frowns upon discrimination on any ground. Article 15(1)
A
abolishes discrimination and removed disability, liability or restriction
on grounds of sex and ensures equality of status. Article 29(2) gives
equal right to education. Jn the earliest decision this Court upheld it in
·State of Madras v. Srimathi Champakam Dorairajan, (1951] SCR 525.
Article 16( 1) accords equality of opportunity in public service for an
appointment or employment to an office or post under the State and B
prohibits gender discrimination. Marriage as a disability for appoint-
ment to Indian foreign service was declared unconstitutional in C.S.
Muthammav. Union of India & Ors., (1980] 1SCR668. Pregnancy as a
disqualification to continue in public employment was held to be an
affront to equality of status, dignity of person and equal opportunity
·-{ violating Articles 14 and 16(1) in Air India v. Nergesh Meerza & Ors., C
[ 1982] 1 SCR 438. It abhors or is loathe to civility. These are few classic
illustrations. Article 15(3) treats women as a class, mitigates the
rigour of absolute equality enshrined in Art. 14 and its species Art.
15(1) & 16(1) and enjoins the State to make any special provision to
remedy past in justice and to advance their status, socio-econmic and
political. Article 21 assures protection of life which includes right to D
livelihood. Article 38( 1) obligates the State to promote the welfare of
the people by securing social order in which socio-economic and politi-
cal justice shall inform all the institutions of the national life, Sub-
article (2) thereof further enjoins the State to minimise the inequalities
in income and to eliminate inequalities in status by providing facilities
and opportunities to all individuals. Women should have adequate E
means of livelihood on par with men, Art. 39(a); should have equal
pay for equal work, Art. 39(d); health and strength of working women
are not abused. Economic necessity· is not a sanctuary to abuse her
person or she should not be forced to an unwited avocation, Art.
39(e); State shall provide just and human conditions ot work and
maternity relief [Art. 421. Article 46 mandates the State to promote .with f
special care the economic and educational conditions of the weaker
sections of the people. It also enjoins to protect them from social
in justice and all forms of exploitation.

To enliven and alongate this constitutional goal to render socio-
economic justice, to relieve Hindu 'female from degradation, disabi- G
Ii ties, disadvantages and restrictions under which Hindu females have
been languishing over centuries and to integrate them in national and
international life, Bharat Ratna Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the first
Law Minister and founding father of the Constitution drafted Hindu
Code Bill. The Hindu, Marriage Act, Adoption and Maintenance Act;
Minority and Guardianship Act and Succession Act 1956, for short H
734 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1991] 3 S.C. R.

"the Act' became a part of this package. They ensue equal status and
A
socio-economic justice to Hindu female. In a socialist democracy
governed by rule of law, law as a social engineering should bring about
transformation in the social structure. Whenever a socio-economic
legislation or the rule or instruments touching the implementation of
welfare measures arise for consideration, this historical evidence
B furnishes as the foundation and all other relevant material would be
kept at the back of the court's mind.

Section 14(1) of the Act declares that any property, movable or
immovable, possessed by a female Hindu shall be held by her as full
owner thereof and not as a limited owner irrespective of the time when
the acquisition was made, i.e., whether it was before or after the Act.
c Undoubtedly as contended by Sri Krishna Murty Iyer, a Hindu male
}-
has freedom of testamentary disposition of his property or by contract
and s. 14( 1) stand an impediment in .his way. Freedom of contract
would yield place to public policy envisaged above. Its effect must be
tested on the envil of socio-economic justice, equality of status and to
D oversee whether it would subserve the constitutional animation or
frustrates. Art. 15(3) relieves from the rigo.ur of Art. 15{ 1) and charges
the State to make special provision to accord to women socio-
economic equality. The court would, therefore, endeavour to find
whether terms of the disposition or clauses in the instruments, will etc.
_enumerated in s. 14 would permeate the aforestated constitutional
E conscience to relieve the Hindu female from the Shastric bondage of
limited estate. Both sub-sections (1) and (2) of s. 14 attract the confer-
ment of restricted estate had by a Hindu female under an instrument,
i.e. gift, will, decree or order of a Civil Court or an award. Section 14
and the impugned document must be read harmoniously as an integral
scheme. The disability attached to Hindu female by Shastric Law was
F removed by statutory provisons in Hindu Succession Act. Section
14{ 1) thereof was thought to be a tool to remove disabilities or restric-
tions imposed by Customary or Shastric Law on Hindu women.
s. 14( 1) declares in unequivocal terms that the property whether mov-
able or immovable held by a Hindu female acquired either before or
after the Act shall be her absolute property, abolishing the limited
· G estate known to Shastric law. Hindu women as a class are declared as
class I heirs entitling to intestate succession to a Hindu Male. This
Court in Pratap Singh v. Union of India, [1985] Suppl. 2 SCR 773 held
that s. 14 of the Act does not discriminate on grounds of sex and is
intra vires of Art. 15{3). The preferential treatment accorded, thereby,
was held to be not violative of Arts. 14 and 15(1). Sub-section (2) of
H s. 14 of the Act attempts to denude the object of sub-section ( 1) and
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA [RAMASWAMY, J.] 735

emasculates its efficacy. It should, therefore, be read as an exception
A
or a proviso to sub-section ( 1) of s. 14. The interpretation of the
proviso or an exception should not be to allow to eat away the vital
veins of full ownership accorded by sub-section ( 1) of s. 14 when this
Court upheld the validity of s. 14( 1) on the envil of Art. 15(3) what
should be the message thus intended to convey? It would mean that
the court would endeavour to give full effect to legislative and con- B
stitutional vision of socio-economic equality to female citizen by grant-
ing full ownership of property to a Hindu female. As a fact Art. 15(3)
as a fore runner t<? common code does animate to make law to accord
socio-economic equality to every female citizen of India, irrespective
of religion, race cast or region.
~ . c
·- - - .. In Seth Badri Preasad·v. Smt. Kanso Devi, !1969) 2·SGC 586 in an
injunction suit agai_nst the respondent, the appellant contended that
the respondent was given limited estate in a decree passed in-an award
and that, therefore, s. 14(2) applies. Negating that contention, this
court held that sub-sec. (2) of s. 14 is more in the nature of a proviso or
an exception to sub-sec. (I). It can come into operation only if the D
acquisition is in any of the methods indicated in sub-sec. (2) without
there being any pre-existing right in the female Hindu who is in posses-
sion of _the property. Section 14(1) removes the disability of the
'y
woman. It was accordingly held that though she came into possession
by virtue of decree passed in an award as limited estate, she acquired
the absolute ownership under sub-sec. (I) of s. 14. E

Section 14 was subject of critical consideration in V. Tulasamma
v. V. Sesha Reddy (dead) by L.Rs., !1977) 3 SCR 261 and its ratio has
become a Tulsidalam to Hindu women as locus classicus giving
forward thrust to constitutional goal according full _ownership in the
property, movable or immovable, held by her as full owner thereof; F
redeemed her from the shackles of women estate known to Shastric
law. Fazal Ali, J. undertook extensive survey into sources of Hindu
Law and found that Hindu widow's right to maintenance is a personal
obligation of the husband and he has a duty to maintain her even if he
has no property. Her right to maintenance would become- an equitable
charge on her husband's property though no charge was created by a G
decree of civil court as "jus ad rem:', i.e. right over property though
not right.to property "jus in rem" and any person who succeeds to the
property carries with it a legal obligation to maintain the wife from her
husband's estate. Only bonafide purchaser for value without notice
alone was relieved of this obligation. The right to maintenance is a
pre-existing rig~t preceding Hi.ndu Women's Right to Property and H
736 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1991] 3 S.C.R.

A Separate Residence Act, 1946. Section 14( 1) recognises her pre-
existing right. Any property acquired by Hindu female by inheritence
or device or at a partition br in lieu of maintenance or arrears of
maintenance or by gift from any person whether relative or not,
before, at or after her marriage, or by her own skill or exertion, or by
purchase or by prescription or in any other manner whatsoever, and
B also such property held by her as stridhana immediately before the
commencement of this Act, movable or immovable property shall be
held by her as full owner thereto and not as a limited owner. Sub-
section (2) thereto shall be construed as an exception or a proviso
which cannot be read to emasculate the purpose enunciated under
sub-section (1). Therefore, the property held by her or property given
C to her at a partition, or under a compromise decree, gift, or in lieu of
maintenance and held by her on the date when the Act came into
force, namely, June 17, 1956 shall be her absolute property as full
owner. Bhagwati J.' (as he then was) speaking for himself and Gupta,
J. while pointing out the faulty drafting of s. 14, held thats. 14( 1) seeks
to do away with the traditional limitation of her power of disposition
D which were regarded under the Hindu law as inherent all her estate.
The words "possessed of" means as the state of owning or having in
one's hand or power which need not be actual or physical possession or
personal occupation of the property by the Hindu female. It may be
actual or constructive or in any form recognised by law. Sub-section
y
( 1) of s. 14 cannot be i.nterpreted in a manner which would deprive the
· E Hindu woman of the protection sought to be given to her by sub-section
(1). The social purpose of the law-would be frustrated and reformist
zeal underlying the statutory provison would be chilled. It was not the
intention of the legislature in enacting sub-section (2) which must be
construed as an exception or a proviso to sub-section ( l). No provision
should be construed in isolation and be read in the context so as to
F make a consistent enactment of the whole statute. Sub-section (2)
must be read in the context of sub-section (1) of s. 14 and if so read
sub-section (2) must be confined to cases where the Hindu female
acquires the property for the first time as a grant without any pre-
existing right to the property under a will or by way of gift or in any ·
other instruments or a decree or order of the civil court or an award, tne
G terms of which prescribe a restricted estate in the property. Sub-
section (2) must be read as an exception or proviso to sub-section ( 1)
so as to leave as large a scope for operation as possible to sub-section
( 1) of s. 14. It was, therefore, held that the property given to
Tul~smma in a compromise decree in lieu of her maintenance with
restricted estate known as widow's estate in Hindu law was enlarged
H and she became an absolute owner under the Act. She had the right to
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA [RAMASWAMY, J.] 737

alienate the property in favour of the others. A
An attempt to reopen the ratio was thwarted by this Court in Bai
Vajia (dead) by L.Rs. v. Thakorhhai Chelabhai & Ors., [1979] 3 SCR
29 l while reaffirming the ratio of Tulasamma' s case as correct Jaw, this
Court further held that limited ownership is sine quo non for the
applicability of sub-section ( 1) of s. 14 of the Act. When a widow holds B
a property for her enjoyment, as long as she lives, no body is entitled
to deprive her or to deal with the property in any manner, to her
detriment. The property is for the time being beneficially vested in her
and she has the occupation, control and usufruct of it to the exclusion
of all others. Such relationship to property falls squarely within the
meaning of expression of "limited owner" as under s. 14(1) of the Act. C
In that context approved the dictum of Bhagwati, J. thats. 14( 1) aimed
to achieve a social purpose to bring about change "in the social and
economic position of women in Hindu Society". It was a step to accord
equality of sex, elevating women from subservient position in the
economic field to higher pedestal with full ownership untrammelled by
artifidal limitation of women's estate cre~ted by male dominence to D
subjugate her.

-y In Jagannathan Pillai v. Kunithapadam Pillai & Ors., [1987] 2
SCR 1070 this Court held that if, the que~tion arises as to what was the
nature of the widow's interest in the property and a challenge was
"\made during her life time or after her death, all that has to be shown by E
J the concerned Hindu female was that she had acquired the property
and that she was possessed of the property at the point of time when
\. .' her title was called into question. The quesiion then was whether she
,.,...J.. became full owner? In that case the widow as a limited owner sold the
property but later on re-purchased the self same property and was in
possession at the date when the question of holding the property and F
. the nature of the right held by her had arisen. It was held that she was
in possession as limited owner and after the Act she became full owner
and not limited owner of the property. It was further held that the
legislative intent is abundantly loud and clear. To erase the in justice
and remove the legal shackles by abolishing the concept of limited
,._.. estate, or the women's or widow's estate once and for all. To obviate G
hair-splitting, the legislature has madte it abundantly clear that what-
ever be the property possessed by a Hindu female, it will be of her
absolute ownership and not of limited ownership, notwithstanding the
position obtaining under the traditional Hindu law.

In Gu/want Kaur & Anr. v. Mohinder Singh & Anr., [1987] 3 H
738 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1991] 3 S.C.R.

SCR 576 construing a letter written by the husband giving the property
A
for wife's maintenance, this court laid thats. 14 is aimed at removing
restrictions or limitations on the right of a female Hindu to en joy, as a
full owner, property possessed by her so long as her possession is
traceable to a lawful origin, that is to say, if she has a vestige of a title.
It makes no difference whether the property was acquired by inheri-.
B tance or devise, etc. The right to maintenance is not a grant made for
the first time without any pre-existing right. Even if the instruments
are silent as to the nature of the interest given to the widow in the
·property and did not, in so many terms, prescribe that she has a limited
interest in the property, she would have no more than a limited in- ~··
terest in the property under the Hindu law as it stood prior to the
)
C ·enactment of the Act. Hence a provision ip the instrument prescribing
that she would have only a limited interest in the property, would be ,t
merely recording the true legal position and would not attract the
applicability of sub-sec. (2), but would be governed by sub-sec. (1) of
s. 14. The conclusion was, therefore; held inescapable that where the
property is allotted to a widow under an instrument, decree, etc. for her
D maintenance, sub-sec. (2) of s. i4 had no application.

In Maharaja Pillai Lakshmi Ammal v. Maharaja Pillai Thilana- y
yakom Pillai & Anr., [1988] 15CR 780 under a partition deed, limited
estate in lieu of maintenance was created and this court held that the

E
deed or any other arrangement bY which the husband gives property
his wife for maintenance need not specifically say that it was given iri
to<1

lieu of maintenance. The right to maintenance is a personal obligation .
of the h.usband. If the wife is put in possession of the property with the '\,
right to take the income for her maintenance, it must be presumed that _,.l
the property was given to her in lieu of maintenance attracting s. 14( 1) -"-
and the limited ownership ripened into full ownership. Accordingly it
F was held thats. 14( 1) attracted to the facts in that case.

In Jaswant Kaur v. Major Harpal Singh, [1989] 3 SCC 572 under
a will executed by the husband the widow was given a life estate which
was held to be enlarged into an absolute estate attracting s. 14(1), but
not s. 14(2) as Hindu female acquired property under the instrument.
· G Her title was traceable to her antecedent over her widow's estate by ~-
gift deed of 1954 to the appellant, one of her daughters. The widow
died in 1968.,,The appellant filed a suit for injunction, based on gift
deed, against the respondent, another s_ister claiming exclusive right,
title and interest in the property and also pleaded adverse possession.
The respondent fiied a cross suit for partition into two shares and
H claimed half share pleading that their mother was not in possession of
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA (RAMASWAMY, J.). 739

property on the date when the Act came .into force. The appellant
A
acquired only limited ownership of their mother and on her death as a
reversioner of her father she was entitled to partition. The High Court
__,. ultimately upheld the respondent's contention and held that the .widow
did not acquire absolute estate under s. 14( 1). Being a limited owner ,
what was conveyed by her to the appellant was only a limited estate
and the appellant would not get the benefit of full ownership as she B
herself was not the limited owner under-sec. 14( 1). On demise of the
mother as reversioner, the respondent was entitled to file the suit for
partition. The appellant did not acquire title by adverse possession as
she was a co-owner and there was no right. Therefore , sub-sec. (2) of
s. 14 would not attract.

Munshi Singh v. Smt. Sohan Bai (dead)'by L.Rs. , (1989] 2 SCR
c
1012 was a case where limited owner gifted away the property and was
parted with possession and the plea of repurchase was negatived by all
the courts. So this court held that s. 14( 1) does not apply. In Pearey
Lal v. Rameshwar Das, (1963] Suppl. 2 SCR834 in construing a will
vis-a-vis ss. 75 , 82, 86 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 this Court D
held that the limited estate is not enlarged into an absolute estate. In
Karme v. Amru, AIR 1971 SC 745 the attention of this Court to s.
14( 1) was not drawn nor had an occasion to angulate in this perspec-
tive . Therefore, the ratio therein is of little assistance to the appellant.

In Kalawatibai v. Soiryahai & Ors., [1991) 3 SCC 410 the mother E
r of the parties, a Hindu widow gifted adverse possession as against the
other co-owner unless it was so asserted and acquiesced by the respon-
dent. Therefore, the decree for partition was upheld and the suit for
injunction was dismissed. The ratio therein does not assist th~
appellant.
F
Thus I hold that · the Act revolutionised the status of a Hindu
female ; used s. 14(1) as a tool to undo past injustice to elevate her to
equal status with dignity of person on par with man ; extinguished
pre-existing limitation of woman's estate, or widow's estate known to
· Shastric law removed all the fetters to blossom the same into full owner-
~hip. The discrimination sufferred by Hindu female under Shastric law G
\.·- was exterminated by legislative fiat . The social change thus envisaged
must be endeavoured to be given full v.igour, thrust and efficacy.
Section 14(1) enlarges the res tricted estate into full ownership when
the Hindu female has pre-existing right to maintenance etc. Sub-sec.
(2) operates when the grant was made for the first time under the
document with no pre-existing right. Sub-sec. (2), therefore, must be H
740 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1991] 3 S.C.R.

A
a
read as an exception or proviso to sub-set. (1) . Hoth the sub-sections
read with the explanation to be pragmaticably considered as a con-
stituent integral scheme. The Court would sit in the armed chair of the
testator, or its maker and summon to its aid the attending circums-
taric~s to execute the instrument; the relationship of the parties and to
see whether the Hindu female acquired the property with vestige of
B pre-existing right and the will, gift deed , order, decree or an award of
the civil court or in any of the forms known to law was executed in
recognition thereof or entitled under the existing law. If ·the finding is
positive her limited estate, though created with restrictive covenants in
instrument or an omission to expressly so mentioned in full particulars
thereof in the instrument in that regard are of little consequence. Her
C limited estate gets blossomed into full ownership under-sec. 14(1)
with a right to bequeath , gift over, alienation or to deal in any manner
recognised by law. If on the other hand the Hindu female acquires for
the first time the tittle therein as a grant with restrictive estate under ·
the instrument with no pre-existing title or right, sub-section (2) of
s . 14 gets attracted and the restrictive covenants contained in the
D instrument would bind her. She remains to be a limited owner in terms
thereof. The subsequent alienee or transferee acquires no higher right
thereunder than the legatee etc. The reversioner to the last male hol-
der is not bound by such transfer and is entitled to succeed the estate,
on her demise, in terms of the instrument. It is too late in the day to
take retrograde step to reopen Tulasamma's ratio.
E In Civil Appeal No. 630 of 1981 of Thota Madhav Rao, Sri
Narsimhalu, his learned counsel contended that Thota Manikyamma,
the respondent, having come into possession and in enjoyment of the
fonds bequeathed under a will with a vested reminder in the appellant,
~er rig9ts are circumscribed by the restrictions contained in the will
and s. 14( 1) does not apply.. He also contended that by application of
'f s. 14(1) to the instruments executed anterior to the Act amounts to
giving retrospective operation of s. 14(1). We find no substance in
either contention . It is settled.law that a legatee under a testamentary
disposition is bound by the restrictive convenants contained therein.
But distinction should be maintafoed between an ordinary legatee and
a legatee/Hindu female coupled with vistage of pre-existing title to the
G property but with a limited estate known to Shastric law as reflected in
the impugned deed etc. Undoubtedly s. 14 is not retroactive in its
operation. Devolution of the property under the will would take effect
after the demise of the testator and the legatee would be bound by the
terms of gift over etc. The stranger legatee cannot take shelter under
H subsequent change of law to enlarge the operation of restrictive cove-
nant to claim absolute ownership in the property bequeathed to her.
SESHARATHAMMA v. MANIKYAMMA (RAMASWAMY, J.) 741

But socio-economic a.melioration. under the Act engulfs an instrument
A
under the sweep of s. 14(1) thereof, it extinguishes the pre-existing
--~ - limited estate or restrictive condition and confer absolute and full
ownership of the property possessed by a Hindu female as on the date
when the Act had come into force, namely , June 17, 1956. The courts
are not giving retrospective operation to s. 14( 1) or to the instrument.
The courts only would be applying the law to the facts found as on the B
date when the question arose to find whether legatee has pre-existing
vistage of title under law; and the nature of possession of the property
held by her and whether the legatee would get the benefit of s. 14( 1) of
... the Act. There need be no express recital even in the will of the

·-< enj<;>yment of the property devised under the will in lieu of main-
tenance as a limited owner for her life. Even if so mentioned, it would
c
be a reflection or restatement of the law existing as in 1932 when the
will was executed. The respondent, admittedly, ~ing a widow of the
testator who~ unde r Shastric law , was obJ\gated to provide main-
tenance to his wife, and it being personal obligation, the property
bequeathed was in lieu of maintenance for her life. She was in enjoy-
ment of the property and the beneficial interest therein stood vested in D
~ her. As per existing law as in i932 the widow as a legatee was entitled
,.., to 'Yidow's estate and she remained in possession on the date of the
Act came into force and was in enjoyment of the income derived
therefrom for her life. No one had a right to interdict it: The restrictive
covenant, therefore , does not stand an impediment to s. 14( 1) to have
full play to extinguish the same and enlarge the limited estate of widow E
into an absolute ownership. The restrictions contained in the will,
though falls both under sub-sec. (2) as well as sub-sec. (1), of s. 14, the
right to maintenance being a pre-existing right over property "red ad
rem" s. 14(1) would apply. The testamentary succession with a restric-
tive conditions in the will was obliterated. She became an absolute
owner on or after June 17, 1956. Accordingly I have no hesitation to F
hold that, though the will created a restrictive covenant, s. 14(2) does
not apply. Section 14( 1) enlarged the widow's limited estate held by
Manikyamma into an absolute ownership as full owner with a right to
disposition by testamentary inst~ment or otherwise. As regards the
claim in S.L.P. No. 2113 of 1980 is concerned, admittedly the decree
.,. was granted with restrictive covenant to remain in possession of a G
portion of the house a nd enjoyment for life and by operation of the
ratio in Tulasiamma's case the restrictive covenant has enlarged into
absolute estate. The appeal and special leave petitions are accordingly
dismissed with costs.

V.P.R. Appeal and Petitions H
dismissed.