Vineetha Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (delivered by the Hon’ble
Apex Court on 11th August, 2020)
The Hon’ble Apex Court has overruled the view taken in the earlier decision in Prakash v. Pulavathi & others. In Prakash v. Pulavathi & others, it was held that Section 6 of Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (as amended in the year 2005) is not retrospective in operation, and it applies when both coparceners and his daughter were alive on the date of commencement of the Amendment Act, 09.09.2005 (to get equal right to the daughter on par with the son in the coparcenery property). However, in Vineetha Sharma Case referred supra, the Hon’ble Apex Court has held that the substituted Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 confer status of coparcener on the daughter born before or after amendment in the same manner as son with the same rights and liabilities. The Hon’ble Apex Court has further held that since the right of the daughter in coparcenery property is by birth, it is not necessary that father (of the daughter) should be living as on 09.09.2005.