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HINDU LAW — COMPREHENSIVE NOTES

Topic 93

Hindu Law — Comparison Tables (All Key Distinctions)

Case Law Compendium & Quick Revision

Relevant Sections: All Four Acts

Priority: HIGH | Exam Relevance: RJS/DJS/PCS-J

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Hindu Law — Key Comparison Tables

One-stop revision: all major distinctions in Hindu law presented as comparison tables.

1. Void vs. Voidable Marriages

Aspect	Void (S.11)	Voidable (S.12)
Nature	Void ab initio — no marriage in law	Valid until annulled by court decree
Grounds	S.5(i) — bigamy; S.5(iv)(v) — prohibited/sapinda	S.5(ii) — unsoundness; S.5(iii) — age (partly); S.12 grounds
Petition	Either party or any interested person	Only aggrieved party
Limitation	No limitation	1 year from discovery of fraud/force; other periods
Children	Deemed legitimate (S.16(1))	Deemed legitimate (S.16(2))
Alimony	Available under S.25 HMA (Sukhdev Singh 2025)	Available under S.25 HMA

2. S.14(1) vs. S.14(2) HSA

Aspect	S.14(1) — General Rule	S.14(2) — Exception
Effect	Limited → Absolute	Restricted estate preserved
Trigger	Pre-existing right recognized	New right created by instrument
Scope	Very wide	Narrow
Leading Case	Tulasamma (1977)	Karmi v. Amru (1972)
Current Status	Prevailing (3-Judge Bench)	Larger bench pending (Tej Bhan 2024)

3. Mitakshara vs. Dayabhaga

Aspect	Mitakshara	Dayabhaga
Author	Vijnaneshwara	Jimutavahana
Region	All India except Bengal	Bengal & Assam
Right by Birth	Yes — coparcenary interest by birth	No — interest only on ancestor’s death
Survivorship	Applies	Does not apply
Alienation	Cannot alienate undivided share (generally)	Can alienate undivided share
Women’s Rights	More restricted (pre-2005)	More liberal
Partition	Son can demand partition during father’s lifetime	Cannot — interest arises only on death

4. S.125 CrPC / S.144 BNSS vs. S.18 HAMA

Aspect	S.125 CrPC / S.144 BNSS	S.18 HAMA
Applicability	ALL religions (secular)	Hindus only
Nature	Criminal / quasi-criminal	Civil
Divorced Wife	Can claim till remarriage	Cannot claim after divorce
Enforcement	Imprisonment for default	Civil execution only
Simultaneous	Yes — both can be claimed together	Yes — both can be claimed together

5. Stridhan vs. Dowry

Aspect	Stridhan	Dowry
Nature	Voluntary gift of love	Given in connection with marriage
Ownership	Wife’s absolute property	Must be transferred to wife within 3 months
Criminal Remedy	S.406 IPC / S.316 BNS	S.3/4 Dowry Prohibition Act
Demand	No demand — voluntary	Given under demand/expectation

6. Joint Family Property vs. Separate Property

Aspect	Joint Family Property	Separate Property
Source	Ancestral / blended	Self-acquired / gift / will
Rights	All coparceners by birth	Owner alone
Alienation	Only for legal necessity/benefit/consent	Full power of disposal
Survivorship	Applies	Does not apply — succession rules govern
Burden of Proof	Presumed joint if ancestral	On person claiming it is separate

7. HAMA Maintenance vs. Senior Citizens Act

Aspect	S.20 HAMA	Senior Citizens Act 2007
Applicability	Hindus only	All religions
Forum	Civil Court / Family Court	Maintenance Tribunal (SDO)
Speed	Slow	Fast (90–120 days)
Void Transfer Power	No	Yes (S.23)
Criminal Penalty	No	Yes — S.24 (3 months imprisonment for abandonment)

8. Permanent Alimony (S.25 HMA) vs. Maintenance Pendente Lite (S.24 HMA)

Aspect	S.24 HMA (Interim)	S.25 HMA (Permanent)
Timing	During pendency of case	At or after decree
Type	Monthly only	Lump sum and/or monthly
Claimant	Husband or Wife	Husband or Wife
Variation	On change of circumstances	On change of circumstances (S.25(3))

EXAM TIP: These 8 comparison tables cover 80% of all distinction-based questions in Hindu law exams. Memorize the key differentiators for each pair. The most frequently tested are: Void vs Voidable, S.14(1) vs S.14(2), Mitakshara vs Dayabhaga, and S.125 CrPC vs S.18 HAMA.

— End of Topic 93 —

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