If a woman dies without will, property goes to in-laws':SC rejects deceased’s parents’ plea, says, ‘Do not belittle the structure of Hindu society, as a woman’s gotra changes after marriage

The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that in Hindu society there is a tradition of Kanyadaan, under which when a woman gets married, her gotra (clan or lineage) also changes.

In such cases, the property of a widow and childless Hindu woman who dies without a will shall go to her husband's family, not to her maternal family.

Actually, the Supreme Court was hearing a petition challenging Section 15(1)(b) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. Under this Act, if a widow and childless Hindu woman dies without a will, her property goes to her in-laws.

Supreme Court's only woman judge Justice B.V. Nagaratna said during the hearing of the petition - Hindu society has a structure and you cannot break it down. We do not want our decision to break something that has been going on for thousands of year