Section 16 (HMA 1955) – Legitimacy of Children

HINDU MARRIAGE ACT, 1955

Section 16 – Legitimacy of Children from Void and Voidable Marriages

🔹 Short Note (Hindi)

Agar kisi shaadi ko court ne invalid (void) ya cancelled (voidable) declare kar diya ho,
to bhi us shaadi se paida hue bachche legitimate (kanuni bachche) maane jaate hain —
chahe unke maa-baap ki shaadi ab valid na ho.
Yeh kanoon innocent children ko protection dene ke liye bana hai.

🔹Detailed Explanation (English + Hindi)

Section 16 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 ensures that children born out of void or voidable marriages are not treated as illegitimate.

In simple terms — even if the marriage of parents was invalid under law (like second marriage without divorce or marriage declared void by court),
the children will still have legal rights as legitimate children.

However, such legitimacy is limited — they can claim inheritance only from their parents’ property,
not from ancestral or joint family property.

🔹Main Points under Section 16

1. Protection of Child Rights:
   The section protects the child from being called “illegitimate” because of parents’ mistakes.
2. Applies to Both – Void & Voidable Marriages:
   • Void Marriage: Invalid from the start (e.g. second marriage while first is still valid).
   • Voidable Marriage: Can be cancelled by court (e.g. forced or fraudulent marriage).
3. Child’s Legal Status:
   Children are considered legitimate for all purposes under personal law.
4. Property Rights:
   • Child can inherit from mother or father’s self-acquired property.
   • Cannot claim share in ancestral/joint family property (as per Revanasiddappa v. Mallikarjun, 2011).

🔹Legal Meaning (Simple Words)

Agar court ke nazariye se kisi shaadi ko galat ya null mana gaya hai,
to bhi us shaadi se paida hue bachche kanuni roop se legitimate rahenge.
Unke legal rights khatam nahi hote, bas limited ho jaate hain property ke mamle me.

🔹Example (Easy Understanding)

Rahul ne bina divorce liye dusri shaadi Anita se kar li.
Law ke mutabiq yeh shaadi void hai.
Lekin Rahul aur Anita ke bachche legitimate maane jayenge —
wo Rahul ki self-earned property me haq rakhte hain,
lekin Rahul ke purkhon ke joint family property me nahi.

🔹Landmark Case Law

Revanasiddappa v. Mallikarjun (2011) – Supreme Court ne kaha ki
children born from void/voidable marriage bhi “legitimate” maane jayenge
aur unhe apne maa-baap ke self-acquired property par haq milega.

🔹Nyay Neeti Advice

Bachchon ko unke maa-baap ke galtiyon ki saza kabhi nahi milni chahiye.
Agar aap kisi legal dispute me ho jahan shaadi ko void ya voidable bataya gaya hai,
to apne bachchon ke legal rights protect karne ke liye Section 16 ka sahara le sakte hain.

🔹Summary Table