Parents may get a share of married daughter’s wealth

The Law Commission on Tuesday suggested grant of succession rights to the parents of a married woman over her self-acquired wealth and property. In its 207th report, submitted to the law ministry, the panel has, however, made the recommendation to include the parents of a woman as inheritors of her wealth incase she dies without writing a will.

The commission’s suggestions assume significance as several working women are successful in their professions and are making a fortune through their skills. The proposal is also aimed at removing an anomaly in the Hindu Succession Act that does not permit a woman's parents or her relatives like brother and sister to get their share in her wealth.

Section 15 of the Act permits the woman’s husband, children or her in-laws to acquire her wealth after her death.

The report, submitted by commission chairman Justice AR Lakshmanan, is also aimed at making life easy for the elderly who allegedly face financial hardships due to ill-treatment by their own sons and daughters-in-law. If the report is accepted and amendments are made in the law, the elderly would get a financial cushion by way of getting a share in their married daughter’s property after her death.

Commission’s Member Secretary DP Sharma said that in case parents of such a woman are dead then her brother and sister would get a share in her riches.