NEW DELHI: Invoking Manusmriti which says no mother, no father, no wife, and no son deserves to be forsaken and a person who abandons them should be fined, Supreme Court Tuesday held that a daughter-in-law who becomes a widow after the death of her father-in-law is entitled to claim maintenance from his estate under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.The confusion arose as it was contended that a daughter-in-law, who became widow during the lifetime of father-in-law, was entitled to maintenance but not in the case where she became widow after his death. The court said the classification made between widowed daughters-in-law based solely on the timing of the husband’s death is unreasonable and arbitrary and in both cases she is entitled to maintenance.A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and S V N Bhatti said Section 22 o Act provides for the maintenance of dependants and casts an obligation upon all the heirs of the deceased Hindu to maintain the dependants of the deceased out of the estate inherited by them from the deceased and it includes daughter-in-law who becomes widow. It said that the provision contemplates “maintenance of dependants”, including “widowed daughter in-law” from the estate of her father-in-law.”A son or the legal heirs are bound to maintain all the dependent persons out of estate inherited i.e. all persons whom the deceased was legally and morally bound to maintain. Therefore, on the death of son, it is the pious obligation of father-in-law to maintain widowed daughter-in-law, if she is unable to maintain herself either on her own or through the property left behind by the deceased son. The Act does not envisage to rule out the above obligation of the father-in-law to maintain his widowed daughter-in-law, irrespective of the fact when she became a widow whether prior or after his death,” SC said. “Denying maintenance to a widowed daughter-in-law… on a narrow or technical construction of the statute would expose her to destitution and social marginalisation…”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibetan Government-In-Exile Urges India To Understand China’s Colonial MindsetAustralia Moves India to Highest-Risk AL3 Category for Student Visas“I Too Want to Help Develop an India Where We Listen…” Rahul Gandhi During Student InteractionCentre Steps In To Scrap 10 Minute Delivery Timers After Safety Fears In India’s Gig Economy GrowMarvel Meets Maharashtra Politics, AI Reels On Civic Polls Turn Thanos, Hulk, Spider-Man Into NetasUS Threatens 25% Tariff on India-Iran Trade, Indian Rice Exporters Warn of LossesIndia To Face 75% US Tariffs After Trump’s Big Iran Announcement?Operation Sindoor Turning Points Revealed: Army Chief Tells What Forced Pakistan To Seek CeasefirePakistan’s Most Loyal Terror Proxy Against India Shows Signs Of Collapse, LeT Cadres Turn On ISILotus Takes Centre Stage As India Sets Tone For BRICS Presidency At Crucial 20 Year Milestone123PhotostoriesWinter Special: How to make Bengali-style Coconut Laddoo with Jaggery (Narkel Naru)From Mamata Banerjee to Dilip Ghosh: Heavyweights in Bengal election 2026 – in pics8 breakfast dishes made with eggs other than omelette and anda bhurji5 reasons why wildlife enthusiasts are heading to Ranthambore right now5 legendary landmarks in Asia named after animalsMakar Sankranti 2026: How to make traditional Moong Dal Khichdi at homeWhy anxiety disorder in teens is on the riseBeautiful Makar Sankranti saree looks inspired by Bollywood actresses in 2026Bengaluru’s metro lifeline gets a boost: Yellow line to roll out 7th train, shorter waits aheadShark Tank India: From a lavish house worth Rs 50 crores to high-end car collection- Namita Thapar’s lavish lifestyle123Hot PicksShaksgam ValleyDubai AirportGold rate todayBengaluru news10-minute deliveryPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingMumbai Indians vs Gujarat GiantsCharlie KirkVanessa Bryant and Natalia Bryant Net WorthBrooks Koepka and Jena Sims Net WorthDrake Maye WifeBill GatesConnor McDavid WifeTariffs on Tehran Trade PartnersBengaluru Dental Student SuicideMLB Trade Rumors
NEW DELHI: Invoking Manusmriti which says no mother, no father, no wife, and no son deserves to be forsaken and a person who abandons them should be fined, Supreme Court Tuesday held that a daughter-in-law who becomes a widow after the death of her father-in-law is entitled to claim maintenance from his estate under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.The confusion arose as it was contended that a daughter-in-law, who became widow during the lifetime of father-in-law, was entitled to maintenance but not in the case where she became widow after his death. The court said the classification made between widowed daughters-in-law based solely on the timing of the husband’s death is unreasonable and arbitrary and in both cases she is entitled to maintenance.A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and S V N Bhatti said Section 22 o Act provides for the maintenance of dependants and casts an obligation upon all the heirs of the deceased Hindu to maintain the dependants of the deceased out of the estate inherited by them from the deceased and it includes daughter-in-law who becomes widow. It said that the provision contemplates “maintenance of dependants”, including “widowed daughter in-law” from the estate of her father-in-law.“A son or the legal heirs are bound to maintain all the dependent persons out of estate inherited i.e. all persons whom the deceased was legally and morally bound to maintain. Therefore, on the death of son, it is the pious obligation of father-in-law to maintain widowed daughter-in-law, if she is unable to maintain herself either on her own or through the property left behind by the deceased son. The Act does not envisage to rule out the above obligation of the father-in-law to maintain his widowed daughter-in-law, irrespective of the fact when she became a widow whether prior or after his death,” SC said. “Denying maintenance to a widowed daughter-in-law… on a narrow or technical construction of the statute would expose her to destitution and social marginalisation…”
