Section 9 (HSA 1956)– Order of Succession

Hindu Succession Act, 1956

Section 9 – Order of Succession

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🔹 Short Note (Hindi)

Section 9 batata hai ki jab ek Hindu male bina will ke mar jaye, to uski property kaunsa heir pehle lega. Pehle Class I heirs ka pura adhikar hota hai. Agar Class I nahi ho, tab Class II, phir agnates aur cognates ka order follow hota hai.

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🔹 Detailed Explanation (English + Hindi)

Section 9 defines the priority sequence (order of succession) for inheritance when a Hindu male dies intestate.

Property distribution ka order fixed hai:

🔹 1. Class I Heirs – First Priority

Agar Class I heirs maujood hain, to kisi aur class ko koi right nahi milta.
These include:

• Wife
• Son
• Daughter
• Mother
• Widow of predeceased son
• Children of predeceased son or daughter

Sabko equal share milta hai.

🔹 2. Class II Heirs – Second Priority

Only when there are no Class I heirs.
Example:

• Father
• Brother
• Sister
• Son’s daughter-son
• Daughter’s son-daughter
  (Priority within Class II is also order-based.)

🔹 3. Agnates – Third Priority

Agnates wo rishtedaar hote hain jo male lineage se connected hote hain, like:

• Father’s brother
• Son of brother
• Paternal uncle’s son

🔹 4. Cognates – Fourth Priority

Cognates wo hote hain jo female lineage se related hote hain, like:

• Mother’s sister’s son
• Maternal uncle’s daughter

🔹 5. Government (Escheat)

Agar koi heir nahi bacha, to property State Government ko चली जाती है.

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🔹 Main Conditions

1. Deceased must be a Hindu male.
2. He must have died without a will.
3. Class I heirs get absolute first right.
4. Class II heirs only if Class I nahi ho.
5. Agnates aur cognates tab consider hote hain jab dono classes absent ho.
6. No mixing of classes — only one class at a time inherits.

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🔹 Legal Meaning (Simple Terms)

Section 9 ka simple matlab hai:

• Sabse pehle property wife, bachche aur maa ko milegi.
• Agar ye nahi hain, tab baap, bhai, behen ya dusre Class II members consider honge.
• Agar dono classes nahi hain, tab door ke rishtedaar (agnates/cognates) ko hakk milega.
• Koi heir na ho to property sarkar ko chali jayegi.

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🔹 Example

Amit, a Hindu male, dies without a will. His family has:

• Wife (Rekha)
• Mother (Kamla)
• Married daughter (Nisha)

Result under Section 9:

• Ye sab Class I heirs hain
• Property equally Rekha, Kamla aur Nisha me baategi
• Brother or father ka koi right nahi banta jab tak Class I exist karte hain

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🔹 Key Legal Points

• Class I heirs block all lower categories
• Class II heirs inherit only if no Class I exists
• Agnates and cognates come later
• No partial mixing of categories
• Widow, mother, and daughters now have equal rights
• This section creates a strict order of priority

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🔹 Nyay Neeti Advice

Agar succession dispute ho, to sabse pehle Class I members ki list verify karein.

• Married daughters bhi Class I heir hain
• Widow of predeceased son ko bhi right milta hai
• Father’s right tabhi hai jab koi Class I heir na ho
• Agar family members apas me settlement karna chahe, to partition deed ya family arrangement useful hota hai
• Succession certificate ya legal heir certificate documentation ke liye zaruri hai

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🔹 Summary Table

Priority	Category	Who Inherits
1st	Class I Heirs	Wife, son, daughter, mother, heirs of predeceased children
2nd	Class II Heirs	Father, brother, sister, others (as per schedule)
3rd	Agnates	Male lineage relatives
4th	Cognates	Female lineage relatives
Last	State Government	If no legal heirs at all

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