Hindu Law — Part 1 MCQs with Explanations

The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 classifies the heirs of a Hindu male into four categories . These are Class I heirs , Class II heirs , Agnates , and Cognates . Class I heirs include close relatives such as son, daughter, widow, and mother who get priority in succession. If there is no Class I heir, the property goes to Class II heirs , who are listed in the Schedule of the Act. In the absence of both Class I and Class II heirs, succession passes to Agnates (relatives wholly through male lineage), and if none exist, then to Cognates (relatives connected through one or more female links).

The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 was a landmark reform in Hindu personal law. Before the amendment , only male members of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) could be coparceners and thus eligible to become the karta (head) of the family. After the 2005 amendment , daughters were granted the same rights and liabilities as sons in the coparcenary property. This means that daughters became coparceners by birth , and therefore, they are now eligible to become the karta of a Hindu joint family if they are the senior-most coparcener. Therefore, the correct statement is: Women can now become karta of joint Hindu family.

According to Hindu law, a minor's marriage without the consent of the parents/guardian is considered both invalid and void. The consent of the parents or guardian is a crucial requirement for a valid marriage under Hindu law. If a minor enters into a marriage without obtaining the necessary consent, the marriage would be considered invalid as it fails to meet the essential requirements for a valid marriage. Additionally, Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, states that any marriage of a person who is under the age of 18 years (for females) or 21 years (for males) is voidable . This means that the marriage is considered void from the beginning and can be declared null and void by a court. Therefore, in the given scenario, if a minor marries without the consent of the parents/guardian, the marriage would be both invalid and void . ** Please note that legal interpretations may vary, and it is recommended to consult a legal professional for precise advice in specific cases.

In Hindu law, the performance of Saptapadi (seven steps around the sacred fire) is considered an essential ritual for the validity of a Hindu marriage. According to Section 7(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 , a marriage is considered complete and binding only when the Saptapadi is performed in the presence of the sacred fire. If Saptapadi is not performed, the marriage is deemed null and void as per Hindu legal traditions. Other rituals like Kanyadaan and Sindoor-daan are customary but not legally mandatory for the validity of the marriage. Thus, the absence of Saptapadi makes a Hindu marriage legally invalid.

Option A: A male below the age of 18 The 2005 amendment allows females to become Kartas, but it doesn't change the requirement that the Karta should be an adult. Therefore, a male below the age of 18 still "cannot" be a Karta. Option B: A married female The 2005 amendment indeed allows married females to become Kartas in an HUF. So, a married female "can" be a Karta under the amended Hindu Succession Act. Option C: Both (A) and (B) This option suggests that both a male below the age of 18 and a married female "cannot" be a Karta. While a male below the age of 18 cannot be a Karta, a married female "can" be a Karta according to the 2005 amendment. Therefore, this option is partially correct. Option D: An adult male coparcener An adult male coparcener can still be a Karta in an HUF even after the 2005 amendment. The amendment expanded the eligibility criteria to include females but did not exclude adult male coparceners from being Kartas. So, the correct answer is Option A: A male below the age of 18. According to the amended Hindu Succession Act, a male below the age of 18 cannot be a Karta in an HUF.

Legitimate but having right of inheritance limited to their parent's property only is the correct answer to “The children born out of a void Hindu Marriage are in the eye of law”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Not entitled to claim maintenance as dependant is the correct answer to “A person who is a dependant under section 21 of Hindu Adoptions & Maintenance Act, 1956 and also a class I heir and gets a share in the deceased's estates as heir, is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Remains valid is the correct answer to “Give correct Response A subsequent impotency i. e. impotency after the solemnization of marriage, the marriage is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

The marriage is solemnized before or after the commencement of Act is the correct answer to “A petition Under Section 12 of Hindu Marriage Act can be filed if:”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

(2), (3) and (4) is the correct answer to “A decree of Judicial separation: (1) Dissolves the Matrimonial bond (2) Does not dissolve the Matrimonial bond but merely suspends marital rights and obligations during the subsistence of the decree (3) Mandates that the parties still continue to be husband and wife but not obliged to live together (4) Provides that if the parties have not resumed co-habitation for a period of one year either party may seek divorce”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

(2) and (3) are correct is the correct answer to “Find out the correct statement(s) from the following: (1) A void marriage remains valid until a decree annulling it has been passed by a competent Court. (2) A void marriage is never a valid marriage and there is no necessary of a decree annulling it. (3) A voidable marriage is regarded as a valid subsisting marriage until a decree annulling it has been passed by a competent Court.”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

May marry immediately thereafter without the leave of the court and as a matter of right is the correct answer to “Under section 15 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 the divorced person, to marry again”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Without the consent of the putative father is the correct answer to “The mother of an illegitimate child has the power to give the child in adoption”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

None of the above is the correct answer to “Under section 8 of The Hindu Succession Act, 1956, who among the following will rank first as heir”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Terminates is the correct answer to “A decree of divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 . . . . . . . . . the status of the parties as married persons.”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Nominee entitled to receive amount or property holds it as trustee is the correct answer to “What is the position of the nominee under The Hindu Succession Act, 1956”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Transferee will take the property subject to the charge is the correct answer to “Where a property sought to be changed mentioned in the application for permanent alimony, is subsequently transferred before the order creating the charge is passed”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Yes is the correct answer to “If, during the period of judicial separation, either spouse indulges in adultery, does it furnish a ground for divorce”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Is not to result in divesting of an estate vested in any person prior to the adoption is the correct answer to “Adoption of a son by a Hindu male”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Section 14 of Hindu Marriage Act is the correct answer to “Bar to entertain a petition for divorce is contained in”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Petition is maintainable as it is immaterial, whether the marriage is solemnised before or after the commencement of the Act is the correct answer to “Give Correct Response. A married in 1947 in accordance with Hindu religious rites and ceremonies, can he file a petition for judicial separation now:”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Less than fifteen years of age is the correct answer to “If a Hindu female intends to adopt a daughter she can adopt a female child who is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Neither (A) nor (B) nor (C) is the correct answer to “A person is disqualified from successing any property if he suffers from any”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Nazar Singh v. Jagjit Singh is the correct answer to “The principle that sub-Section (2) of Section 14 is more in the nature of a proviso or exception to sub-section (1) was laid down in-”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Agnate is the correct answer to “Who comes first in succession as per Section 8 of The Hindu Succession Act, 1956”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

She will inherit under Section 8 of the Act and her estate will become absolute under Section 14 of the Act is the correct answer to “If a male Hindu died possessed property after the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, came into force leaving his widow W as his sole heir. Which of the following statements will apply”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

18 years is the correct answer to “Give Correct Response. The minimum age of Bride is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

A divorced husband is the correct answer to “'Husband' in entry (a) of section 15(1) of Hindu Succession Act, 1956 does not include”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Minor is the correct answer to “Alienation of the minor's property made by a natural guardian without the previous permission of the Court, under Section 8(3) of Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 will be voidable at the instance of:”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Joint family debts is the correct answer to “While determining as to what property is available for partition, the provision has to be made for”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

None of the above is the correct answer to “Who has no right to partition under Hindu Law”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

The property inherited by a woman, whether from a male or female is the correct answer to “Give incorrect Response stridhan is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Liable to account for the family property as it exists is the correct answer to “In the event of partition in a joint family, the manager/karta is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

By attachment of property is the correct answer to “A decree for restitution of conjugal rights may be enforced:”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Valid is the correct answer to “A marriage of a Hindu man with the biological sister of his adopted sister is:”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Section 6 is the correct answer to “The Hindu Succession Act as amended in September, 2005 empowered the daughter of a coparcener rights in coparcenary property like son under . . . . . . . . of the Act.”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Section 10 is the correct answer to “Under which Section of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, 'judicial separation' has been provided”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Section 29 is the correct answer to “Which of the following provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 lays down for the escheat:”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Succession is the correct answer to “In the presence of any of the female relatives or a male relative claiming through a female, the interest of a coparcener in the joint Hindu family governed by Mitakshara school, shall devolve by”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.

Section 16 is the correct answer to “Which of the following Sections of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, provides that children of a void marriage would be the legitimate children”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Hindu Law.