Holding

Remarriage of the widow in 1953 extinguished any limited interest in her deceased husband's estate, so Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 does not apply.

Summary

The case concerned the estate of the late R. Rosaiah, whose widow Lakshmamma (L) had been granted a life interest in his properties under a compromise decree. L later remarried in 1953 and attempted to adopt a boy as the heir of her first husband, which the trial court rejected. The principal questions were whether L's remarriage, under the Hindu Widow's Re‑marriage Act, 1856, divested her of any limited interest in her deceased husband's estate and whether the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (Section 14) could revive that interest. The Supreme Court held that Section 2 of the 1856 Act extinguishes the widow’s right upon remarriage, so no limited estate existed for Section 14(1) to convert into absolute ownership. The Court also rejected the argument that the 1949 Bigamy Prevention Act could confer a right, emphasizing the doctrine of sincerity and moral estoppel. Consequently, the appeal was allowed and the earlier judgment granting L an absolute interest was set aside.

Issues considered

The effect of a widow's remarriage prior to the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 on her limited interest in her deceased husband's property under Section 2 of the Hindu Widow's Re‑marriage Act, 1856.
Whether the overriding provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (Section 4(1)) or the Madras Hindu (Bigamy Prevention and Divorce) Act, 1949 can nullify the divestment caused by remarriage.
The applicability of Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 to convert a limited estate into absolute ownership in the present facts.

Legislation cited

Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956s. 78
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955s. 11, s. 16, s. 23(1)(a)
Hindu Succession Act, 1956s. 14(1), s. 14(2), s. 24, s. 4(1)
Hindu Widow's Re‑Marriage Act, 1856s. 2
Limitation Acts. 21

Subjects

Hindu Succession Actwidow's remarriagelimited estateSection 14moral estoppeldoctrine of sinceritybigamy preventionmaintenance rightsadoptionres judicata

Judgment

.A VELAMURI VENKATA SIVAPRASAD (DEAD) BY L.RS.
v.
KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU (DEAD) BY L.RS. AND ORS.

NOVEMBER 24, 1999

B [S.B. MAJMUDAR, M. SRINIVASAN AND
UMESH C. BANERJEE, JJ.]

I
Hindu Succession Act, 1956.

C Section 14(1)-Limited estate/interest of widow-Re-marriage of widow
before coming into force of 1956 Act-Effect of-Held, re-marriage divesting
widow as limited owner of estate of her deceased husband-Section 14(1)
not applicable-No limited estate/interest subsisting on commencement of
1956 Act which gets converted into full ownership-Hindu Widow's Re-
D marriage Act, 1856-section 2.

Madras Hindu (Bigamy Prevention and Divorce) Act, 1949-Widow
contending that re-marriage was not valid in view of 1949 Act and claiming
benefit under 1956 Act-Prohibitory Statute-Interpretation of-Held,
statutory prohibition cannot be treated in aid of conferment of right -
E Prohibitive statute of 1949 not applicable in the facts as it would lead to
absurdity-Illegality and immoral conduct of widow established-Effect of- ·
Held, doctrine of sincerity and moral estoppel applicable-Widow cannot
take advantage of her own immoral conduct and illegality-Void marriage-
Status of-Held, voidness of marriage not absolute nullity-Hindu Marriage
Act, 1955-Sections 11, 16,& 23(l)(a).
F
R executed will bequeathing properties to his mother V and provided
only some maintenance for his wife L It further provided that /,n,.case L adopted <'.!
a boy of the choice of his mother who was to remain under guardianship of '·
his mother V until attainment of majority, and in that event would be entitled
to certain properties specified in the will. After death of R. suits were filed by
G both Land V which ended in compromise and affirmed the will as true and
valid and recognised rights of both V and L in the properties. It further
provided that L shall adopt a boy of the choice of V within 7 years from date
of compromise and properties mentioned therein shall devolve upon the adopted
son. When there was no adoption by L within specified period, V filed suit for
H declaration that L was not entitled to adopt a boy under the compromise and
522
V. V. SJV APRASAD v. KOT HU RI VENKATESW ARLU 523
" that she herself was entitled to adopt a boy and levelled specific allegations of A
unchastity against L and contended that as a result L had lost all rights in
the estate of her husband. Suit was dismissed by the trial court and first
appellate court.

Thereafter, suit was filed by V and her daughter for declaration of title
and possession of suit properties on the ground that L did not take adoption B
and also by reason of her re-marriage in 1953 she had lost all rights in the
properties of her husband R. Trial Court held that L had remarried and
adoption of defendant No. 8 by L was neither true nor valid, but dismissed the
suit. Appeal filed by adopted son of V was allowed by Single Judge. In further
appeal the Division Bench held that as a result of re-marriage of Lin 1953,
L could not make adoption to her first husband but allowed appeal on the
c
ground that by virtue of Section 14(1) of the Hindu succession Act, 1956 pre-
existing right of L for maintenance from out of the property of her deceased
husband matured into absolute right in properties. Hence, this appeal.

The respondent contended that Section 4 (I) of the 1956 Act conferred D
over-riding effect and therefore, Section 2 of the Hindu Widows Re-marriage
Act, 1856 does not apply to extinguish rights of L; that re-marriage under
1856 Act should be valid marriage and re-marriage of L was nullity by virtue
of the Madras Hindu (Bigamy Prevention and Divorce) Act, 1949; and that
social obligation to maintain wife could not be negated.
E
Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD : I. The effect of re-marriage is available in the Hindu Widow's
Re-marriage Act, 1856. Section 2 of the 1856 Act has taken away the right
of widow in the event of re-marriage and the statute is very specific to the
effect that the widow on re-marriage would be deemed to be otherwise dead. F
The words" as if she had then died" are rather significant. The legislature
intended therefore that in the event of a re-marriage, one loses the rights of
even the limited interest in such property and after re-marriage the next heirs
of her deceased's husband shall thereupon succeed to the same. It is thus a
statutory recognition of a well reasoned pre-existing shastric law. The Act of G
1856 was in the Statute Book until the year 1983 and it only stands rejected
by Act 24of1983. [535-A, B; 534-H[
I
2.1 The Madras Hindu (Bigamy Prevention and Divorce) Act, 1949 being
penal in nature, was introduced in the Statute Book to prohibit bigamous
) marriages and to provide for a right of divorce on certain grounds as H
524 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
.(
A mentioned therein-statutory prohibition cannot be treated to be in aid of
conferment of right: it is a prohibitory statute and not a conferring statute.
[539-D[

2.2. Any mechanical and literal applicability of the Act of 1949 would
lead to incongruity as well as absurdity since in the event the widow is married
B to a person without having a spouse living-the widow divests herself of any
right to deceased husband's properties by reason of Section 2 of the Act of
1856, but in the event the widow is married to a person with a spouse living,
the same tantamounts to no marriage and resultantly entitlement under the
general law would be available to the widow: what has been prohibited would,

c in effect, amount to conferment of a right of inheritance on the deceased
husband's property this is contrary to all cannons of law. The Prohibitive
statute of 1949 cannot possibly have its operation extended in the contextual
facts as otherwise the same would lead to a total absurdity in the facts of the
present case and which in any event ought always to be avoided. [539-F[

D 2.3. The issue that re-marriage of L was a nullity by virtue of the
provisions of the Madras Hindu (Bigamy Prevention and Divorce) Act, 1949
cannot be agitated at this juncture by reason of the fact that the same stands
concluded by the Trial Court as well as the first appellate court. In the
companion Letters Patent Appeal, the Division Bench has confirmed the
finding that L re-married in 1953. This judgment inter partes has become
E final. No Special Leave Petition is filed by the appellants against the said
decision even though they claim their interest through L. Hence, the finding
that L re-married in 1953 has become res-judicata between the parties.
[535-H; 536-A; 545-A-B)

3. The contention that marriage being void in terms of the provisions of
F the Act of 1949 cannot hold good in any event Voidness of a marriage cannot
be termed to be an absolute nullity. Hindu Marriage Act provides annulment
of the marriage under Section II and the same statute under Section 16
legitimised the children of otherwise void marriages. It is thus a.statutory
recognition of limited voidness and not a nullity. [543-B; 544-BI
G
R. Thiruvirkolam v. Presiding officer and Anr., [1997] 1 SCC 9 and
State of Kera/a v. MK. Kunhikannan Nambiar Manjeri Manikoth, Naduvil
(dead) and Ors., [1996[1 SCC 435, relied on.

Bhaurao Shankar Lokhande and Anr. v. The State of Maharashtra and
H Anr., AIR (1965) SC 1564, distinguished. 0,
V. V. SIV AP RA SAD v. KO THUR! VEN KA TESW ARL\) 525
Wade's Administrative Law, 7th Ed., referred to. A
4.1. In the contextual facts, the doctrine of sincerity has its due
application. L cannot take advantage of her own immoral conduct and illegality
to confer upon herself a right to continue to get maintenance from the
properties of her deceased husband under the consent decree. The sister of L
in no uncertain terms stated before the Court that L bore a baby through S in B
1952 and her (the sister's) husband married Lin 1953. Thereafter L gave
birth in 1954 to a daughter and subsequently to another son in the same year.
L is said to have retained the right of maintenance from the deceased
husband's estate by reason of the Act of 1949. This is, to say the least a
travesty of correct legal position. There is some moral estoppel also. It is C
only the estate which was attractive to her and the subsequent purported
adoption by L to her late husband when there were already two sons, through
the brother-in-law bore ample testimony of her immorality disentitling her
any continued maintenance from her deceased husband's estate. L has thus
three children and in spite thereof attempted to have an adoption established
in favour of her own son before a court of law in the name of the deceased D
husband, simply by reason of the fact that deceased R permitted certain
properties to be given to the adopted son-the interest is only property. The
doctrine of sincerity, therefore, plays as a bar to such a construction being
put on a prohibitory statute. No doubt the 'doctrine of insincerity' must be
applied with great care and even where approbation is proved, the court has E
discretion as to what weight is to be given to it.
(539-C; 541-C; 541-F; 543-F)

4.2. The general doctrine of approbation and reprobation which is an
aspect of equitable estoppel is not peculiar to English Law and as a matter of
fact Section 23(1) (a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 does give statutory p
recognition to the said equitable principle. (542-81

NewBihar, BiriLeavesCo. and Ors. v.StateofBihar& urs. AIR,(1981)
SC 679 at 692, affirmed.

G (The Husband) v. M (The Wife) LR 10 AC, 171, referred to. G
Derett's Critique of Modern Hindu Law; Mu/la's Principles of Hindu
Law, 6th Edn. Page 713, referred to.

5. The courts ought always to adopt a construction of the statute which
) will enure to the benefit of the society and eschew such a construction which H
526 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A may adversely affect the society. Morality and law cannot but be equated with
each other; what is legal is moral and as s,uch morality cannot be differentiated
from the law. 1541-H; 542-A)

6. Subsequent unchastity will not make a widow forfeit the property
which she has succeeded to her husband on his death. [546-C)
B
Maniram Kolita v. Keri Kolitany, 5 Cal. 776 P.C. and Lakhmi Chand v.
Mt. Anandi, AIR (1935) PC 180, relied on.

Ramaiya v. Mottayya, AIR (1951) Madras 954, approved.

7.1. The Act of 1856 does not stand abrogated or repealed by the
C Succession Act of 1956 and it is only by Act 24 of 1983 that the Act stands
repealed. In the contextual facts of the matter and since the factual situation
of re-marriage of Lin the year 1953 stands proved, Section 2 of the Hindu
Widow's Re-marriage Act, 1956 gets attracted. As a result thereof L's right
to get maintenance from her deceased husband's property came to an end on
D her civil death qua her ex-husband's estate latest by 1953. Hence, there was
no subsisting legal right of maintenance available to L qua her deceased
husband's estate in any of his properties nor was there a subsisting limited
interest of hers in any of those properties which got matured into full
ownership under Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act when it came
into force. 1551-C; 548-D-E)
E
7.2. The Succession Act of 1956 is prospective in operation and in the
event of a devastation prior to 1956, question of applicability of Section 14(1)
would not arise since on the date when it applied, there was already a re-
marriage disentitling the widow to inherit the property of the deceased
husband. The Act of 1856 had its full play on the date of re-marriage itself,
F as such Succession Act could not confer the widow who has already re-
married, any right in terms of Section 14(1) of the Act of 1956. The Succession
Act of 1956 has transformed a limited ownership to an absolute ownership ey
but it cannot be made applicable in the event of there being a factum of pre
divestation of estate as a limited owner. If there existed a limited estate or
G interest for the widow, it could become absolute but if she had no such limited
estate or interest in lieu of her right of maintenance from out of deceased
husband's estate, there would be no occasion to get such non-existing limited
right converted into full ownership right. 1549-A-B-C)

V Tulasamma & Ors. v. Sesha Reddy (dead) by L.Rs., [1977) 3 SCC 99;
H Raghubir Singh v. Guiab Singh, (1998( 6 SCC 324; C. Masilamani Mudaliar
V. V. SIVAPRASAD v. KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE, J.] 527

and Ors. v. The Idol of Sri Swaminathaswami Swaminathaswami Thirukoli A
and Ors., AIR (1996) SC 1697 and Vimala (K) v. Veeraswamy (K) [1991) 2
sec 375, distinguished.
Chinnappavu Naidu v. Meenakshi Amma/ and Anr.,, AIR (1971) Mad.
453, held inapplicable.
B
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 425of1982.

From the Judgment and Order dated 31.3. 78 of the Andhra Pradesh High
Court in L.P.A.No.20of1977.

R. Sundaravaradan K. Ram Kumar and Ms. Shantinarayan for the C
Applleants.

L. Nageshwara Rao, C. Mohan Rao, Azim H. Laskar, G. Ramakrishna
Prasad and S. Udaya Kumar Sagar for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
D
BANERJEE, J. Two specific questions arise for determination in this
appeal by the grant of special leave against a Bench decision of the Andhra
Pradesh High Court: Firstly, whether re-marriage of a widow prior to Hindu
··, Succession Act, 1956 would divest her of even the limited ownership of her
deceased husband's property, having due regard to the provisions of Section
2 of Hindu Widow's Re-marriage Act, 1856 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act E
of 1856'); and secondly, whether disqualification of inheritance, if any, by
reason of re-marriage would stand obliterated by reason of the provisions of
the Madras Hindu (Bigamy Prevention and Divorce)fct, 1949.

The factual score in the Appeal presently before us reveals that one
Rosaiah was the owner of a large extent of properties. He died in February, F
1937 leaving behind him his wife Lakshmamma and mother Venkayamma.
Rosaiah executed a will on I Ith January, 1937 wherein he bequeathed all his
properties to his mother Venkayamma. Apart from providing some maintenance,
Rosaiah did not provide anything else to his wife Lakshmamma. As a matter
of fact in the will he stated that his wife Lakshmarnma was not obedient to G
him and th'at her father with her aid was trying to knock off all his properties
· and that his wife was also not living with him. He however in the will provided
that, in case his wife was prepared to take a boy of his mother's choice, in
. adoption, she could do so but the boy so adopted should be under the
guardianship of his mother until attainment of majority and in that event
4 would be entitled to certain properties as specified in the will. H
528 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999) SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A Factual score further depicts that after the death. of Rosaiah, Lakshmamma <
filed a suit (OS No. 52 of 1939) for a declaration as regards her entitlement
to all the properties of her husband. The mother, in her tum, also filed another
suit for administration of the estate, on the basis of the will mentioned above
(OS No. 42 of 1940). It appears from the records that there was in fact a
B compromise decree between both the mother and the wife of Rossiah which
was recorded by the Court on 19th April 1942. In the compromise memo
Lakshmamina has been referred to as the plaintiff, while Venkayamma, the
mother as the first defendant. Clause (a) of the said compromise ~xpressly
affm:ned the will put forward by the mother, Venkayamma as true and valid and
the properties of Rosaiah were categorised into three schedules, appended to
C the said Memo of compromise. Properties mentioned in Schedule- I were
jointly given to both the said ladies with absolute rights. While properties
mentioned in Schedule-II were given to both of them jointly with a life estate
only. Schedule-III contains three items. Items I and 2 were given to the
mother, while item ~ was given to the wife. Clause (f) of the said memo of
compromise p(ovided as follows:-
D
"(f) The !st defendant is agreeable that plaintiff shall continue the
lineage of late Rosaiah by adopting a boy of her choice within 7 years
from now, from the family ofVelamuri people or from the family of any
other person of the (same) Gotram or from out of the boys of her
E younger sister as provided within the will executed on 11.1.193 7 by
the late Rosaiah and receiving him as the adopted son of her husband.
As soon as the adoption takes place, the immovable property
mentioned in Schedule-II, attached hereto and retained by the plaintiff
and the !st defendant with life-interest the 2nd item in its entirety and
half of 3rd item mentioned in Schedule III other than the portion
F necessary for the residence of the plaintiff and the 1st defendant till
·their life-time and the plate and cup being used by the plaintiff and
the iron safe, pot ( ) and 'Panakapu Binde' being used by the 1st
· defendant present out of the silverage given to Late Rosaiya at the
time of the marriage shall be developed on the adopted son himself
G and he himself shall have absolute rights to the said items ...... '.'.

Admittedly there is no adoption by Lakshamamma within the period
prescribed as contemplated in clause (f) above and by reason therefor,
Venkayamma the mother, filed a fresh suit (OS 93 of 1950) for a declaration
that since Lakshmamma failed to take on adoption, as provided by clause (f)
H above, she was not entitled to do so thereafter, and for a further declaration
V.V. SIVA PRASAD v. KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE, J.) 529
that she herself was entitled to adopt a boy. In the plaint filed and as the A
records depict, Venkayamma levelled specific allegations of unchastity against
Lakshmamma and contended that by reason of the fact of leading a life of
unchastity, Lakshmamma lost all her rights in her husband's estate. The said
suit was however dismissed and an appeal being AS No. 344 of 1953 was
preferred to the High Court against the dismissal of the suit (No. 93of1950). B
The facts reveal that the appeal came up for hearing on 8th March, 1958 and
it is on the date of hearing counsel for the appellant Venkayamma conceded
that by reason of the p~ovisions of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance
Act, 1956 (Act No. 78 of 1956) even a success in the appeal would not entitle
the appellant to adopt. The Appellate Court on the wake of the aforesaid,
dismissed the appeal. C
In 1969 as the records depict, the present suit (O.S. No. 44 of 1969)
was filed by Venkayamma and her daughter Sitarammamma asking for a
declaration of title to the suit properties and for possession of the properties
mentioned in the plaint Schedule 'A' and 'B' and for mesne profits on the
ground that since Lakshmamma did not take the adoption and also because D
of her re-marriage in 1953, she had lost all her rights and the same in any event
stood forfeited so far as the husband's properties were concerned and that
Venkayamma was otherwise exclusively entitled to the same.

Incidentally, be it noted that Venkayamma in the suit ~lated that she has
relinquished all her rights in favour of Sitharamamma and therefore the latter E
was imp leaded as the second plaintiff. Besides, the allegation of re-marriage,
Venkayamma also attributed unchastity to Lakshmamma. In the said suit, nine
defendants were impleaded. !st defendant is Lakshmamma while defendants
2 to 4 were impleaded on the ground that they have been inducted into
possession of the 'B' schedule properties in suit by the 1st defendant. F
Defendants 5 to 7 were impleaded on the ground that they were the alienees
from the first defendant and the 8th defendant was impleaded because he was
supposed to be the adopted son of the first defendant, while the 9th defendant
was said to be the joint purchaser along with defendants 3 and 4 of some of
the suit properties. ·
G
In the written statement, Lakshmamma's defence was that she did take
a boy being the 8th defendant by way of a valid adoption. While denying
the re-marriage she pleaded the bar of res-judicata with respect to the allegation
of unchastity. The 8th defendant in his written statement asserted his own
adoption whereas the other alienees substantially adopted the defence taken
t by Lakshmamma. The Trial Court on final disposal recorded a definite finding H

\
530 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A as regards the issue on unchastity being barred by the doctrine of res- (
judicata. But in regard to the issue ofre-marriage in August, 1953, the same
was found to be otherwise correct as a matter of fact. Trial Court further held
that whatever properties were given to Lakshmamma under the memo of
compromise became her absolute properties by virtue of Section 14 of Hindu
B Succession Act. Two other issues were raised before the Trial Court namely;
the issue of adoption of 8th defendant and the suit being barred by the laws
of limitation. The last issue of limitation was answered in the affirmative, the
plea of adoption was negatived and the Trial Court came to a conclusion that
no such adoption can even be valid also.
<
C The'factual score further reveals that Venkayamma died pending the
. suit and the 3rd plaintiff was brought on record as her adopted son: The 2nd
plaintiff Sitharamamma also died after the judgment of the trial court and
before the filing of the appeal. The appeal before the learned Single Judge of
the Andhra Pradesh High Court was preferred only by the 3rd plaintiff in the
suit being the adopted son of Venkayamma.
D
We may now deal with the twin issues noted at the beginning of the
judgment.

Re-first Issue:

Conversion of limited ownership into an absolute one under Section
E 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act did come up for judicial scrutiny
intermittently before this Court and the law in regard thereto stands settled
by the decision in Tulasamma's case V. Tulasamma &Ors. v. Sesha Reddy
(dJ by LRs., [1977] 3 sec 99.

Admittedly the decision in Tulasamma 's case (supra) is holding the field
F till date without even any semblance of dissention in all subsequent decisions.
We also ~o not wish to sound any different note in that regard. In paragraph
20 of the Report Fajal Ali, J. laid down certain propositions as regards Hindu <
women's rights to maintenance and we cannot resist but to quote the same
herein below in extenso as useful refresher:
G "(!) that a Hindu woman's right to maintenance is a personal
obligation so far as the husband is concerned, and it is his duty to
maintain her even if he has no property. If the husband has property
then the right of the widow to maintenance becomes an equitable
charge on his property and any person who succeeds to the property
H cares with it the legal obligation to maintain the widow.
f
V.V. SIVAPRASADv. KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE,J.] 531
(2) though the widow's right to maintenance is not a right to property A
but it is undoubtedly a pre-existing right in property, i.e. it is a )us ad
rem notjus in rem and it can be enforced by the widow who can get
a charge created for her maintenance on the property either by an
• agreement or by obtaining a decree from the civil court;

(3) that the right of maintenance is a matter of moment and is of such B
importance that even if the joint property is sold and the purchaser
has notice of the widow's right to maintenance, the purchaser is
legally bound to provide for her maintenance;

(4) that the right to maintenance is undoubtedly a pre-existing right C
which existed in the Hindu Law long before the passing of the Act
of 193 7 or the Act of 1946, and is, therefore, a pre-existing right;

(5) that the right to maintenance flows from the social and temporal
relationship between the husband and the wife by virtue of which the
wife becomes a sort of co-owner in the property of her husband, D
though her co-ownership is of a subordinate nature; and

(6) that where a Hindu widow is in possession of the property of her
husband, she is entitled to retain the possession in lieu of her
maintenance unless the person who succeeds to the property or
purchases the same is in a position to make due arrangements for her E
maintenance."

Undisputably the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 in particular Section 14
has introduced far reaching changes having due re_gard to the role and place
of womanhood in the country on the basis of the prevailing socio-economic
perspective. It is now a well-settled principle of law that legislations having F
socio-economic perspective ought to be interpreted with widest possible
connotation as otherwise, the intent of the legislature would stand frustrated.
Recognition of Rights and protection thereof thus ought to be given its full
play for which the particular legislation has been introduced in the Statute
Book. Gender bias is being debated throughout the globe and the basic G·
structure of the Constitution permeates equality of status and thus negates
gender bias. Gender equality is one of the basic principles of our Constitution.
The endeavour of the law court should thus be to give due weightage to the
requirement of the Constitution in the matter of interpretation of statutes
wherein specially the women folk would otherwise be involved. Tile legislation
of I 956 therefore, ought to receive an interpretation which would be in H

r
532 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A consonance with the wishes and desires of framers of our Constitution. We
ourselves have given this Constitution to us and as such it is a bounden duty
and an obligation to honour the mandate of the Constitution in every sphere
and interpretation which would go in consonance therewith ought to be had
without any departure therefrom. Tulasamma 's case obviously having this in
B mind decided the issue and attributed the widest possible connotation to the
words used in Section 14( I) of the Act of 1956. The decision in Tulasamma 's
case from time to time came up for consideration before this Court and the
same stands accepted without any variation as noted herein before. One of
the latest decisions where Tulasamma 's case has been considered, is the
decision of this Court in the case of Raghubir Singh v. Guiab Singh, [ 1998]
C 6 SCC 324, wherein Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chief Justice speaking for the
Bench in paragraphs 24 and 26 of the Report observed:-

"24. Accordingly, we hold that the right to maintenance of a Hindu
female flows from the social and temporal relationship between the
husband and the wife and that right in the case of a widow is "a pre-
D existing right", which existed under the Shastric Hindu Law long
before the passing of the 1937 or the 1946 Acts. Those Acts merely
recognised the position as was existing under the Shastric Hindu law
and gave it a "statutory" backing. Where a Hindu widow is in
possession of the property of her husband she has a right to be
E maintained out of it and she is entitled to retain the possession of that
property in lieu of her right to maintenance.

26. It is by force of Section 14(1) of the Act, that the widow's limited
interest gets automatically enlarged into an absolute right
notwithstanding any restriction placed under the document or the
F instrument. So far as sub-section (2) of Section 14 is concerned, it
applies to instruments, decrees, awards, gifts etc., which create an
independent or a new title in favour of the female for the first time.
It. has no application to cases where the instrument/document either
declares or recognises or confirms her share in the property or her
"pre-existing right to maintenance" out of that property. As held in
G Tulasamma case sub-section (2) of Section 14 is in the nature of a
proviso and has a field of its own, without interfering with the operation
of Section 14( I) of the Act."

It would be convenient, however, at this juncture to note the exact
H language of Section 14. Section 14 reads as below:
V.V. SIVAPRASAD v. KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE,J.) 533
"14. Property of a female Hindu to be her absolute property- A
(1) Any property possessed by a female Hindu, whether acquired
before or after the commencement of this Act, shall be held by her as
full owner thereof and not as a limited owner.

Explanation- In this sub-section 'property' includes both movable and B
immovable property acquired by a female Hindu by inheritance or
devise, or at a partition, or in lieu of maintenance or arrears of
maintenance, or by gift from any person, whether a relative or not,
before, at or after her marriage, or by her own skill or exertion, or by
purchase or by prescription, or in any other manner whatsoever and
also any such property held by her as stridhana immediately before C
the commencement of this Act.

(2) Nothing contained in sub-section ( 1) shall apply to any property
acquired by way of gift or under a will or any other instru:nent or
under a decree or order of a civil court or order an award where the D
terms of the gift, will or other instrument or the decree, order or award
prescribe a restricted estate in such property."

Having due regard to the language as above introduced by Section 14
question of attributing a different interpretation, apart from what has been
given in Tulasamma's case, does not arise but needless however to note that E
in order to have the provision applicable there shall have to be some right
existing and not de hors the same. In Raghubir's case (supra) the Shastric law
has been taken recourse to in order to ascribe a pre-existing right so far as
the widow is concerned by reason of the social and temporal relationship
between the husband and the wife during the life time of the husband and
the solemn obligation of the husband towards the wife. Hindu marriage is not F
a mere formality or a contract but has its due religious sanctity even in the
present day society. Homam i.e. oblation to fire and Saptapadi (seven steps
together ) are bdng observed in order to have a holy union between the
husband and the wife. In this context, the observations in the decision of
Raghubir Singh's case seem to be apposite and in paragraph 14 of the Report, G
Dr. Anand, CJ observed:-

"According to the old Shastric Hindu law, marriage between two
Hindus is a sacrament-a religious ceremony which results in a sacred
and a holy union of man and wife by virtue of which the wife becomes
a part and parcel of the body of the husband. She is, therefore, called H
534 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A ardhangani. It is on account of this status of a Hindu wife, under the
Shastric Hindu law, that a husband was held to be under a personal
obligation to maintain his wife and where he dies possessed of
properties, then his widow was entitled as of right, to be maintained
out of those properties. The right of a Hindu widow to be maintained
out of the properties of her deceased husband is, thus a spiritual and
B moral right, which flows from the spiri!ual and temporal relationship
of husband and wife, though the right is available only so long as the
wife continues to remain chaste and does not remarry."
.('

There is therefore no difficulty in appreciating the observations of this
C Court in Tulasamma 's case or in Raghubir 's case but the issue here as noticed
above, is slightly different on the factual score and neither of the decisions
can lend any assistance to the respondents herein.

The Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court unfortunately
has not been able to appreciate the admitted re-marriage of Lakshmamma in
D the year 1953. Re-marriage is a fact which ought to be taken note of in the
matter under consideration and it is this change of status, by reason of re-
marriage, falls for determination in the present appeal. While there is no
amount of doubt that by reason of the well settled law as laid down by this ...
Court, to the effect that a limited right of maintenance permeated into an
E absolute right under Section 14 ( 1) of the Hindu Succession Act but would
the effect be the same, in the event of there being a re-marriage of the widow
prior to 1956? The Act of 1956, incidentally is prospective in its operation and
no element of retrospectivity can be attributed therein. The effect of re-
marriage is available in t:1e Act of 1856. Section 2 thereof reads as below:

F "2. All rights and interests which any widow may have in her deceased
husband's property by way of maintenance or by inheritance to her
husband or to his lineal successors, or by virtue of any will or
testamentary disposition conferring upon her, without express
permission to re-marry, only a limited interest in such property, with
no power of alienating the same, shall upon her re-marriage cease and
G determine as if she had then died; and the next heirs of her deceased
husband, or other persons entitled to the property on her death, shall
thereupon succeed to the same."

Incidentally, the Act of 1856 was in the Statute Book until the year 1983
H and it only stands repealed by Act 24 of 1983.
i

I
•
V.V. SIVAPRASAD v. KOTHURI VENKA TESWARLU [BANERJEE, J.) 535
,
Section 2 of the Act 1856, therefore, has taken away the right of widow A
in the event of re-marriage and the Statute is very specific to the effect that
the widow on re-marriage would be deemed to be otherwise dead. The words
"as if she had then died" (emphasis supplied) are rather significant. The
... legislature intended therefore that in the event of a re-marriage, one loses the
rights of even the limited interest in such property and after re-marriage the B
next heirs of her deceased's husband shall thereupon succeed to the same.
It is thus a statutary recognition o~ a well reasoned pre-existing shastric law.

An attempt has however been made as regards overriding effect of
Hindu Succession Act in terms of Section 4(1) thereof. Section 4(1) provides
as below:-
c
"4. Overriding effect of Act-( I) Save as otherwise expressly
provided in this Act,-
.1
(a) any text rule or interpretation of Hindu law or any custom or
usage as part of that law in force immediately before the commencement D
of this Act shall cease to have effect with respect to any matter for
which provision is made in this Act;

"' (b) any other law in force immediately before the commencement of
this Act shall cease to apply to Hindus insofar as it is inconsistent
with any of the provisions contained in this Act. E
(2) For the removal of doubts it is hereby dechred that nothing
contained in this Act shall be deemed to affect the provisions of any
Jaw for the time being in force providing for the prevention of
fragmentation of agricultural holdings or for the fixation of ceilings or
for the devolution of tenancy rights in respect of such holdings." F
Mr. Nageshwara Rao, learned counsel appearing for the respondents
contended that by reason of the overriding effect of the Act of 1956, question
of reliance on Section 2 of the Act of 1856 does not arise. On the next count
it was contended that re-marriage envisaged under Section 2 must be a valid
re-marriage and since Lakshmamma got married to a person while he was G
having a spouse living, being Lakshmamma's own sister's husband, that is
to say Lakshmamma got married to her own brother-in-law in the year 1953,
question of there being a valid re-marriage does not and cannot arise. It is
on this count, the learned counsel contended that the act of 1949 (The
Madras Hindu Bigamy Prevention and Divorce Act) which declares all marriages H
536 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A wherein one spouse has a spouse living, be a nullity and as such question
of there being any valid marriage in tenns of the Act of 1856 does not and
cannot arise.

The above contentions fall squarely within the ambit of the second
issue noticed above and as such we refrain ourselves from making any
B comment thereon at this juncture and reserve the same for consideration in
the later part of this judgment.

On the issue as regards the applicability of Section 14( I) of the Act of
1956, B.P. Jeevan Reddy, J. (as His Lordship then was) hearing out the first <
appeal has the following to observe:-
C
"The next question arises is, whether the life estate created in
Lakshmamma under Ex.A-I gets enlarged by virtue of Section 14(1) of
the Hindu Succession Act. For a proper appreciation of this question,
it is necessary to notice a few dates. The Hindu Women's right to
Property Act, 193 7 came into force on 1st April, 193 7. However, it was
D not applicable to agricultural properties. It was made applicable to
agricultural properties only in 1946 by virtue of the Act passed by the
Madras Legislature. In any event, Rosaiah having died in February,
1937, prior to the enforcement of the Principal Act itself, Lakshmamma
cannot claim any right under the said Act. She would have been
E entitled to widow's estate according to Hindu Law, but she was
deprived of even that, by virtue of the will (Ex. A-3) executed by
.
Rosaiah, and the truth and validity of which will was affinned by
Lakshmamma hereself in the Memo of Compromise, Ex.A- I. Once that
will is true it has to be given effect to and, according to it, Lakshmamma
had only a right to maintenance, and nothing more. Therefore, when
F she was given certain properties, either absolute or for her life, under
the said Memo of Compromise, it must be said that rights in her in
respect of the said properties were created for the first time under and
by the said Memo of Compromise that she had no pre-existing rights
in the said properties. If so, according to the decisions of this Court
G and other High Courts, emphasi.sing the distinction between and
applicability of sub-section (I) and sub-section (2) of Section 14 of
the Hindu Succession Act, it is sub-section (2) alone that applies, and
not sub-section (1 ). In other words, there is no more question of
enlargement of her right vide G.Konraiah v. G. Subbrabayudu, (1968)
II An ....... 455 were the earlier decisions of this Court and other High
H Courts also are noted and referred to. To the similar effect is the
I

V.V. SIVAPRASAD v. KOT HU RI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE,J.) 537
·-.
Decision of the Madras High Court in Hussain Uduman v. Venkatachal A
Mudaliar, (1974) II, MLJ 275. Similarly the decision of the Supreme
· Court, Karmi v. Amrru, AIR 1971. Supreme Court 745 affirms that
where a life estate is created by a will executed by a husband in favour
of his wife, such a life estate does not got enlarged by virtue of
Section 14(1) but that it is governed by sub-section (2) only."
B
As regards the issue of re-marriage and the validity of the adoption so
far as the 8th defendant is concerned, learned Single Judge observed that the
findings have not been questioned in the appeal by anyone and as such no
exception can be taken in regard thereto. Insofar as the question of the suit
being barred under Section 113 of the Limitation Act, the learned Single judge
has been pleased to answer the issue in the negative and on the basis of the
c
aforesaid, the learned Single Judge allowed the appeal in the manner following:-

"It is declared that the !st defendant has only a life-interest
alongwith the I st plaintiff, in the properties mentioned in Schedule II
to Ex.A- I and that, she has a life interest only even in item 3 of D
Schedule III to Ex.A-I and that, the alienations made by her in favour
of the other defendants are not binding upon the plaintiffs, insofar as
the said alienations pertain to the properties mentioned in Schedule
II or to item 3 in Schedule III, appended to Ex.A- I. In so far as the
properties mentioned in Schedule I to Ex.A- I are concerned, the 1st
defendant has an absolute interest, alongwith the !st plaintiff herein. E
Plaintiffs are, however, not entitled to immediate possession of the
properties mentioned in Schedule II and item 3 in Schedule III to ExA-
I, inasmuch as the !st defendant has a life-interest therein. They shall,
however, be entitled to the possession of the said properties after the
life-time of the I st defendant. The relief of mesne profits too
F
, accordingly fails."

Subsequently, however, the matter was taken up in Letters Patent
Appeals and the Appellate Court by a judgment dated 31st March, 1978 in
LPA Nos. 19 and 20 of 1977 was pleased to reverse the judgment of B.P.
Jeevan Reddy, J. and confirmed the decree in Original Suit No. 87 of 1966. As
G
regards the LPA No ..19 of 1977 the Appellate Bench has the following to
observe:-

"First we will take up LPA No. 19/1977. Shri M. Chandrasekhara Rao
has submitted that the adoption of the 8th defendant by the I st
Ir defendant is true and valid and, therefore, the sale deed executed by H
538 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A him in favour of defendants 3,4 and 9 is also valid. On a consideration
of the evidence on record we hold that the !st defendant had re-
married in August, 1953. If so, there is no question of her making an
adoption to her first husband, late Rosaiah. Consequently, we affirm
the findings of Jeevan Reddy, J., and dismiss LPA No. 19/1977."

B · As regards LPA No.20/1977 the Appellate Court relying upon
Tulasamma's case (supra) came to a conclusion that pre-existing rights of
Lakshmamma for maintenance from out of the property of her late husband
cannot be disputed and as such came to the conclusion that Lakshmamma got (

an absolute right in the properties given to her in Schedule II and item 3 of
C Schedule III by virtue of sub-section (I) of Section 14 and as such the
alienation made by her under the sale deed in favour of defendant Nos. 2,3
and 4 is· otherwise valid and it is this judgment which is presently in appeal
under discussion before this Court.

It has to be kept in view that Section 14( 1) of the Hindu Succession Act,
D in the light of the explanation thereto, clearly indicates that if a Hindu widow
is given in lieu of her pre-existing right of maintenance, any property with
limited interest, the said interest would mature into full ownership under
Section 14(1) of the Act. It has further to be kept in view that under the will
of Rosaiah, the first wife's pre-existing right of maintenance was recognised
E and in recognition of the very same right by the compromise decree she was
given limited interest to recover maintenance from the earmarked properties
mentioned in the same decree. It has, therefore, to be held in the light of the
judgment in Tulasamma' s case that if her right of maintenance had survived
till the coming into operation of Section 14( 1) of the Act, then her limited
interest on the properties concerned over which the said right was exercised
F as per consent term could have matured under Section 14( 1) of the Act and
to that extent the Division Bench judgment upsetting the view of the learned
Single Judge cannot be found fault with. However, in the light of the admitted
fact on record on re-marriage ofRosaiah's widow in 1953, her right to claim
maintenance from the ex-husband's properties got extinguished prior to 1956,
G as will be further seen from our discussion on the second issue. Hence, the
ultimate decision rendered by the learned Single Judge will remain well-
sustained and the Division Bench judgment upsetting· the same cannot be
sustained on this ground. Issue No. 1, therefore, will have to be answered in
favour of the appellant and against the respondent.

H Re:Second Issue: Addressing on this issue, Mr. Rao contended that the
V.V. SIVA PRASAD v. KOTH URI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE, J.] 539
re-marriage, spoken of in Section 2 of the Act of 1856, cannot but mean a valid A
re-marriage and since Lakshmamma got married to her brother-in-law in the
year 1953, the marriage, Mr. Rao contended cannot but be termed to be a void
marriage as such a nullity and thus application of Section 2 does not and
cannot arise. At first blush the submission seemed to be attractive but on a
closer scrutiny of the matter in issue we are afraid we cannot lend concurrence B
to the submission of the respondent in that regard, the reasons for the same
being as below:

\
I. In the contextual facts the doctrine of sincerity has its due
application. Lakshmamma cannot take advantage of her own
immoral conduct and illegality to confer upon herself a right to C
continue to get maintenance from the properties of her deceased
husband under the consent decree.
II. The Act of 1949 being penal in nature,· was introduced in the
Statute Book to prohibit bigamous marriages and to provide for
a right of divorce on certain grounds as mentioned therein
statutory prohibition cannot be treated to be in aid of conferment D
of right: it is a prohibitory statute and not a conferring statute.

- III. Any mechanical and literal applicability of the Act of 1949 would
lead to incongruity as well as absurdity since irt the event the
widow is married to a person without having a spouse living-the
widow divests herself of any right to deceased's properties by E
reason of Section 2 of the Act of 1856, but in the event the
widow is married to a person with a spouse living, the same
tantamounts to no marriage and resultantly entitlement under
the general law would be available to the widow: what has been
prohibited would, in effect, amount to conferment of a right of F
inheritance.on the deceased husi>and's property- this is contrary
· to all cannons of law.

In detailing out the reasons as noticed above, reference may be made
at this stage itself to a decision of the House of Lords in the case of G. (The
Husband) v. M (The Wife) (LR 10 AC 171), wherein, EARi OF SELBORNE G
LC observed:

"I think I can perceive that the real basis of reasoning which underlies
that phraseology (sincerity) is this, and nothing more than this, that
there may be conduct on the part of the person seeking this remedy
which ought to estop that person from having it: as, for instance, any H
540 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999) SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A act from which the inference ought to lie drawn that during the
antecedent time the party has, with a knowledge of the facts and of
the law; approbated the marriage which he or she afterwards seeks to
get rid of, or has taken advantages and derived benefits from the
matrimonial relation which it would be unfair and inequitable to permit
on her, after having received them, to treat as if no such relation had
B ever existed. Well now, that explanation can be referred to known
principles of equitable, and, I may say, of general jurisprudence. The
circumstances which may justify it are various, and in cases of this
kind many sorts of conduct might exist, taking pecuniary benefits for I
example, living for a long time together in the same house or family
c with the status and character of husband and wife, after knowledge
of everything which it is material to know. I do not at all mean to say
that there may not be other circumstances which would produce the
same effect; but it appears to me that in order to justify any such
doctrine as that which has been insisted upon at the bar, there must
be a foundation of substantial justice, depending upon the acts and
D conduct of the party sought to be barred."

-
· ' There must thus have to be a foundation of substantial justice depending
upon the acts and conduct of the party sought to be barred-as stated by the
Lord Chancellor.

E It is in this context the will is to be noticed: In the will Rosaiah being
the testator stated that his wife Lakshmamma was not obedient to him and
that her father with her aid was also trying to knock off all his properties and
that his wife was also not living with him.

F The learned Subordinate Judge Narasaraopet in paragraph 21 of the
judgment in the main suit recorded as below:

"21. Smt G. Samanthakamani, P. W. 2, deposed that the frrst defendant
bore a child to Sri Veeraraghava Sastri in 1952 and that the name of
that child is Kasi Visweswara Hanumath Prasad. She stated further
G that in the year 1954 she gave birth to a daughter and that some time
thereafter, the first defendant gave birth to a son in the same year. She
deposed that in the year 1953, her husband Veeraraghava Sastri married
the first defendant Seelanagaram in a choultry near the temple. After
hearing the contents of Ex.A. I I, P. W.2 stated that it is not true that
H Kasi Visweswara Hanumath prasad is her natural son and that it is not
V.V. SIVAPRASAD v. KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE, J.) 541
......
true that he was given in adoption to first defendant's husband, the A
adoption being made by the first defendant. The evidence of Sri A.
Sreeramchandra Murthy, P.W. 4, is to the effect that Sri G. Veeraraghava
Sastry has two wives that Smt. Laxmidevamma is one of them, that the
said Laxmidevamma has a son called Prasad or Prasad Babu and she
was delivered of a male child in February or March 1954."
B
The factual score therefore, depicts that the sister of Lakshmamma in
no uncertain terms stated before the 'Court that the first defendant bore a
, baby son through Sri Veeraraghava Sastri in 1952 and her (the sister's)
husband married Lakshmamma in 1953. Thereafter Lakshmamma gave birth in
1954 to a daughter and subsequently to another son in the same year-this is C
the person who is said to have retained the right of maintenance from the
deceased husband's estate by reason of the Act of 1949: This is, to say the
~ least, a travesty of correct legal position. There is some moral estoppel also.
It is only the estate which was attractive to her and the subsequent purported
adoption by Lakshmamma to her late husband when there were already two
sons, through the brother-in-law bore ample testimony of her immorality D
disentitling her any continued maintenance from her deceased husband's

·- estate.

On the score of adoption the learned Subordinate Judge on a
consideration of the materials available, found "that the adoption of the 8th E
defendant by the I st defendant to late Veeraragahava Sastri is neither true ·
nor valid." Incidentally P.W.l before the learned Subordinate Judge stated
that the 8th defendant is the natural son of the first defendant: the lady has
thus three children and in spite thereof attempted to have an adoption
established in favour of her own son before a court of law in the name of the
deceased husband, simply by reason of the fact that deceased Rosaiah F
permitted certain properties to be given to the adopted son-the interest is
f only property: In our view the tests as laid down by Lord chancellor in G.
v. M. (supra) stands amply satisfied in the contextual facts. The doctrine of
sincerity, therefore, plays as a bar to such a construction being put on a
prohibitory statute. G
It is pertinent to note here that the courts ought always to adopt a
construction of the statute which will em1re to the benefit of the society and
~. eschew such a construction which may adversely affect the society. Morality
and law cannot but be equated with each other: what is legal is moral and
as such morality cannot be differentiated from the law. One School of thought H
542 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A recorded that while it is true that what is legal is moral but the converse is
not true. We however, do not dilate on this issue excepting reiterating what
is stated herein before in this judgment.

The general doctrine of approbation and reprobation which is an aspect
of equitable estoppel is not peculiar to English law and as a matter of fact
B Section 23 (1) (a) of the Act of 1956 does gives statutory recognition to the
said equitable principle. The language used in Section 23(1) (a) to wit-" ..... .
is not in any way taking advantage of his or her own wrong .... " is rather
significant. Indeed, Derett in his book "Critique of Modem Hindu Law" at
I
page 314 holds the view that "It is a rule of justice, equity and good conscience
C and is international".

In Mulla's Principles of Hindu Law, the learned author has the following
to state:

"The latter part of clause (a) read with the words at the end of sub-
section (I) "then and in such a case, but not otherwise" makes it
D
abundantly clear that the court cannot pass a decree granting any
relief under the Act in favour of a petitioner who is in any way taking
advantage of his or her own wrong or disability for the purpose of
such relief and it is not enough that the petitioner has established the
ground on which relief is sought; and if that is so his or her own
E wrong or disability is an absolute bar to the relief sought by the
petitioner. The rule is based on the principle of justice that a wrongdoer
should not be permitted to take advantage of his or her own wrong
or disability while seeking relief at the hands of the court in any
matrimonial proceeding."

F (Mulla's Principles of Hindu Law, 16th Edn. Page 713)

Interestingly this Court also applied the latin maxim 'qui approbat man
reprobat' (one who approbates cannot reprobate) in Indian conditions as a
basic inhibitory principles of law. (see in this context New Bihar Biri leaves
G Co. and Ors. v. State of Bihar & Ors., AIR (1981) SC 679 at 692 paragraphs
50 and 51).

The present case is not strictly concerned with petitions for r
determination of status under the Hindu Marriage Act but rather with 0
questions of Hindu personal inheritance in the context of the conduct of one
H of the parties. No doubt the 'doctrine of insincerity' must be applied with
V.V. SIVAPRASAD v. KGTHURI VEN KA TESWARLU [BANERJEE, J.] 543
". great care and even where approbation is proved, the Court has discretion A
as to what weight is to be given to it.

The contention on behalf of the respondent as regards the marriage
being void in terms of the provisions of the Act of 1949 on the wake pf the
observations as above, thus, cannot hold good in· any event. Voidness of a
marriage cannot be termed to be an absolute nullity. A lucid discussion' on B
the topic is available in Wade's Administrative Law 7th Ed. Wherein it is
stated as below:

" " ... Here also there is a logical difficulty, since unless an order of the
court is obtained, there is no means of establishing the nullity of the C
list. It enjoys a presumption of validity, and will have to be obeyed
unless a court invalidates it. In this sense every unlawful administrative
act, however invalid, is merely voidable. But this is no more than the
truism that in most situations the only way to resist unlawful action
is by recourse to the law. In a well-known passage Lord Radcliffe
~~: D
"An order, even if not made in good faith, is still an act capable
of legal consequences. It bears no brand of invalidity upon its
forehead. Unless the necessary proceedings are taken at law to
establish the cause of invalidity and to get it quashed or otherwise
upset, it will remain as effective for its ostensible purpose as the most E
impeccable of orders."

Void is therefore meaningless in any absolute sense. Its meaning
is relative, depending upon the court's willingness to grant relief in
any particular situation. If this principle of legal relativity is borne F
in mind, confusion over 'void or voidable' can be avoided."

The passage above stands approved by this Court in R. Thiruvirkolam
v. Presiding Officer and another, [1997] 1 SCC 9.

In the case of State of Kera/av. MK. Kunhikannan Nambiar Manjeri G
Manikoth Naduvil (dead) and others, [1996] I SCC 435 this Court in no
uncertain terms laid down that the word 'void' has a relative rather than an
absolute meaning. This Court observed:

"It only conveys the idea that the order is invalid or illegal. It can be
avoided. There are degrees of invalidity depending upon the gravity H
544 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999) SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A of the infinnity, as to whether it is fundamental or otherwise ... "

It is in this context one may also consider that Hindu Marriage Act
provides annulment of the marriage under Section 11 and the same statute
under Section 16 legitmised the children of otherwise void marriages. It is thus
a statutory recognition of limited voidness and not a nullity. The reliance
B was placed on the decision of this Court in the case of Bhaurao Shankar
lokhande and Anr. v. The State of Maharashtra and Anr., AIR (1965) SC
1564, wherein this Court while dealing with the prosecution under Section 494
read with 114 l.P.C. observed that in the event the marriage is not a valid
marriage, it is no marriage in the eye of law. The Court was considering as
C to whether the subsequent marriage needs to be a valid marriage in order to
impose punishment under Section 494 I.P.C. In paragraph 15 of the report this
Court observed:

"(15) It follows, therefore, that the marriage between appellant No. I
and Kamlabai does not come within the expression 'solmenised
D marriage' occurring in S.17 of the Act and consequently does not
come within the mischief of S.494, l.P.C. even though the first wife of
appellant No. I was living when he married Kamlabai in February,
1962."

The decision in our view does not lend any support to the contention
E of the respondent herein and the same is clearly distinguishable on facts. The
observations of this Court were made in the context of a prosecution, wherein
the punishment would be seven years imprisonment together with fine and
it is in this perspective that the nitti natti of marriages were dealt with and
the Court came to a conclusion that marriage was not properly solmenised
F and as such the accused ·cannot be said to be guilty of an offence under
Section 494. The liability is criminal and the burden of proof is beyond all
reasonable doubts- such however is not the case presently under consideration.
It is this perspective that the matter has to be· considered as to whether
prohibitive statute ought to be read as conferring statute and in view of the
discussion above we answer the first and the second point of reasons as
G noted above so as not to confer any entitlement in favour of Lakshmamma.

On the third count also let it be noted that this prohibitive statute can
not possibly have its operation extended in the contextual fact5 as otherwise
the sam_e would lead to a total absurdity in the facts of the present case and
H which in any event ought always to be avoided.
V. V. SIVAPRASAD v. KO THU RI VEN KA TES WARLU [BANERJEE, J.] 545
Finally and in any event this issue however cannot be re-agitated at this A
juncture by reason of the fact that the same stands concluded by the Trial
Court as well as by the first appellate court. It may also be noted that in the
companion Letters Patent Appeal No. 19 of 1977, the Division Bench has
confirmed the finding that 1st defendant remarried in 1953 and hence she
could not validly adopt defendant No. 2. Accordingly, Letters Patent Appeal
No. 19 of 1977 was dismissed. This judgment inter partes has become final. B
No Special leave Petition is filed by the appellants against the said decision
even though they claim their interest through defendant No. I. Hence, the
finding that defendant No. I remarried in 1953 has become res judicata between
\
the parties. In any case at this point of time no factual controversies can be
raised, neither can be decided in the jurisdiction conferred onto this Court by C
the Constitution. In that view of the matter, we are also not inclined to lend
•
any concurrence to the submissions on behalf of the respondents.

Turning attention to the issue of vesting of the property and subsequent
divestation if there be any, by reason of any unchastity or re-marriage, it
would be profitable for us to notice the decision of the Madr~s High Court D
in the case of Ramaiya v. Mottayya, AIR (1951) Madras 954. In a very
iliuminatingjudgment, in paragraph 12 Viswanatha Sastri, J. observed:

"It is a well settled rule ofHindu'Law- a rule that is inconformity with
popular sentiment that-unchastity disqualifies a widow from succession
to her husband's estate. The textual authorities on this point will be E
found assembled in the judgment inkery Ko/itany v. Monscram Kolita,
13 Beng. L.B.I. the text requires that the widow must be chaste not
only when the inheritance of her deceased husband opens but also
thereafter. A text attributed to Vridha Manu says:

"The wife alone, being sonless and keeping the bed of her lord F
unsullied and leading a life of religious observance, may take his
entire estate."

Katyayana also declares:

"Let the sonless widow, preserving unsulled the bed of her lord and G
bidding with her venerable protector, enjoy with moderation the
(husband's) property until her death"

Other texts state as "half the body" of her deceased husband the
widow takes his property in default of male issue. The above text
show that not only that the sonless widow's right in her husband's H
546 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A p,roperty is a mere right of enjoyment but that the exercise of that right
is dependent on her chastity. The use of the present participle form
implies that chastity is imposed as a permanent condition of the.
widow's enjoyment of her husband's estate and that a violation of
that condition would involve a forfeiture of the right. But European
writers, like Colebrooke and English Judges who had to administer the
B Hindu law, in their concern for ensuring certainty of titles to property
and their leanings against a divestiture of estates once vested, declared
the law to be that a son less widow who was chaste at the time of her
husband's death inherited his estate and that a widow who had once
·inherited the estate of her husband was not liable to forfeit it by f

c reason of her subsequent unchastity. The law was thus settled by the
Judicial Committees in Maniram Kolita v. Keri Kolitany, 5 Cal. 776
P.C. and this has been the accepted rule of Hindu law ever since.
Unchastity disentitles a Hindu widow to maintenance. Maintenance
being a recurring right her continued chastity is a condition of her
right to receive maintenance and she would forfeit her right by reason
D of her unchastity even though maintenance has been decreed to her
· by a Court. Lak.shmichandv. Mt. Anand1; 57 All 672 P.C. Kandasami
v. Murugammal, 19 Mad. 6 and Nagamma v. Virabhadra, 17 Mad.
392. If there has been a lapse from chastity the widow would be
entitled only if she reforms her ways, and even then only to a starving
E maintenance. Satyabhama v. Kesavacharya, 39 Mad. 658. The widows
of coparceners in a joint Hindu family are in fact and in law members
of the family with rights in or over the family property by way of
maintenance. Raghunanda Dea v. Brozokishore Patta Dea, 1 Mad
69 at p.81; Ka/yani Vitta/das v. Commissioner of income-tax, !.L.B.
(1937) 1 Cal 653 (PC) and Vedathunni v. Commissioner ofIncome-tax,
F 56 Mad 1 at pp.4, 5. The requirement of Chastity as a condition of
,' their maintenance from the family property is therefore intelligible.

The observations of the learned Judge in paragraph 13 of the judgment
pertaining to the issue as regards the effect of unchastity vis a vis the
husband's separate or self acquired property under the Shastric Law and the
G effect of subsequent legislation thereon are also worth noting. Paragraph 13
reads as below:-

"13. The Act was doubtless intended to "give better rights to women
in respect of property" as stated in the preamble. But in what cases
H and to what extent? The rights of a Hindu widow in relation to the
V.V. SIVAPRASADv. KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE,J.] 547
property or interest of her husband, as they stood before the Act, and A
as they now stand, have to be considered. A Hindu widow succeeded
to the self-acquired property of her husband or the property held by
him as the last surviving coparcener or as the holder of a share on
partition if he happened to die without leaving sons (including in that
term grandsons and great grandsons). The sonless widow was B
disqualified from inheriting her husband's separate or self acquired
property if she was unchaste or living in adultery at the time the
inheritance opened. The Act did not. touch this class of cases and did
not abrogate the rule of Hindu law as to disqualification of a widow
arising out of her unchastity in such cases. If in the cases above
mentioned the husband had left sons (in comprehensive sense) the C
widow would before the Act have been excluded by the sons from
inheriting her husband's estate and would only be entitled to
maintenance for her life out of that estate. If her husband had died
as a member of a joint Hindu Family owning property, his interest in
the family property ceased on his death. The widow would but for the
Act; be excluded from succession to the undivided interest of her D
husband which passed by survivorship to the remaining coparceners.
She would have had a right, however, to be maintained from the joint
family property in the hands of the surviving coparceners, who might
be her son or her husband's uncles, brothers, nephews or other
agnatic relations. With reference to these two classes of cases above E
specified, S.3 of the Act conferred new rights of succession on widows
in supersession of the above mentioned rules of Hindu law. The rule
that a widow succeeded only on failure of male issue was abrogated
and she was given the same share as a son in her husband's separate
or self acquired property. Where the husband died a member of an
undivided Hindu family, his undivided interest in the family property F
passes to his widow even if he left male issues. The rule of survivorship
was to this extent abrogated. The interest taken by a widow in her
husband's estate by virtue of S.3 of the Act was the same as the
interest which she look in her husband's separate or self acquired
property in the absence of male issue, that is to say a Hindu widow's G
estate with all the incidents attached by law to that estate. The
liability to forfeiture on remarriage would attach to that estate from its
,. commencement and continue throughout the widow's life. The
condition of chastity however attaches to the estate only at its
commencement. Through the Act conferred new rights of succession
on Hindu widows in the two classes of cases referred to above it did H
548 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A not purport to abrogate the pre-existing rule of Hindu law excluding (
an unchaste widow from succession to the property of her husband.
It would be a queer state of law that sonless widow has to be chaste
in order to inherit her husband's separate or self acquired property
but a widow need not be chaste if she happens to have sons or other
coparceners of her husband in competition with whom she claims to
B take her husband's estate. This however, would be the result of the
argument of the appellant as regards the construction of Ss.2 and 3
of the Act."

Be that as it may the law as declared by Privy Council has been
C consistently followed that subsequent unchastity will not make a widow
forfeit the property which she has succeeded to her husband on his death
neither we express any contra view in regard thereto. In the contextual facts
of the matter under consideration however, and since the factual situation
of re-marriage of Lakshmamma in the year 1953, stands proved, it has to be
held that Section 2 of the Hindu Widow's Re-marriage Act, 1956 gets attracted.
D As a result thereof, Defendant No. I's right to get maintenance from their
deceased husband's property came to an end on civil death qua her ex-
husband's estate latest by 1953. Hence there was no subsisting legal right of
maintenance available to Defendant No.I qua her deceased husband's estate
in any of his properties nor was there a subsisting limited interest of hers in
E any of those properties which get matured into full ownership under Section
14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act when it came into force. As such the legal
situation is different in the present case. and the law as laid down and as
noticed above does not render any assistance to the Respondent herein.
Similar is the situation in regard to another decision of the Madras High Court
in the case of Chinnappavu Naidu v. Meenakshi Ammal and another, AIR
F (1971) Mad.453. The decision last noted dealt with the effect of Section 2 of
the Hindu ,Widows Re-marriage Act, 1856 and the Division Bench of the
Madras High Court came to a conclusion that by reason of Section 4(1 )(b)
of the latter Act, of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. Section 14 prevails over
Section 2 of the 1856 Act and as such re-marriage will not create any
divestation. The re-marriage spoken of in the Madras High Court decision
G however, did take place after introduction of the Succession Act of 1956, as
such this decision also does not lend any assistance to the respondent by
reason of the factual differentiation in the matter presently before us.

Incidentally, be it noted that the Succession Act of 1956 obviously is
H prospective in operation and in the event of a divestation prior to 1956, ·
V.V. SIVA PRASAD v. KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE, J.] 549
question of applicability of Section 14(1) would not arise since on the date A
when it applied, there was already a re-marriage disentitling the widow to
inherit the property of the deceased husband. The Act of 1856 had its full
play on the date of re-marriage itself, as such Succession Act could not
confer the widow who has already re-married, any right in terms of Section
14(1) of the Act of 1956. The ~uccession Act has transformed a limited B
ownership to an absolute ownership but it cannot be made applicable in the
event of there being a factum of pre divestation of estate as a limited owner~
If there existed a limited estate or interest for the widow, it could become
absolute but if she had no such limited estate or interest in lieu of her right
of maintenance from out of deceased husband's estate, there would be no
occasion to get such non-existing limited right converted into full ownership C
right.

Strong reliance was also rlaced on the decision of this Court in the case
of C. Masilamani Muda/iar and Ors. v. The Idol of Shri Swaminathaswami
Swaminathaswsami Thirulwli and Ors., AIR [1996] SC 1697. The facts in the
last noted decision depict that Somasundaram Pillai died in September, 1950. D
The Legatees Sellathachi and another had come into possession of the
properties. Janaka Thathachi died in the year 1960. In 1970, Sellathachi had
appointed a power of attorney-holder who had alienated the suit properties
and the appellants had purchased them under registered sale deed. The suit
was filed for declaration that the legatees having succeeded to limited estate E
under the will, the alienations made by Sellathachi were illegal. The Trial Court
decreed the suit. The learned Single Judge allowed the appeal and dismissed
the suit and in LPA No. 161/88 dated July 2, 1992, the Division Bench of the
High Court set aside the decree of the single Judge holding that the legatees
had suceeded to restricted estate under sub-section 2 of Section 14 of the
Hindu Succession Act. 1956 (for short, the "Act'') and that, therefore, their F
rights have not blossomed into absolute estate. The question before this
Court was whether the widow had become the absolute owner under Section
14( I). This Court held that the right to maintenance stands as a charge on
her husband's property and can be termed to be pre-existing legal right which
stands transformed into absolute right in terms of Section 14(1) of the Act G
of 1956. This Court ~eld that the right to maintenance to a Hindu female
receives statutory recognition wider the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance
Act, 1956 and she is entitled to realise maintenance from the property of her
husband and even in the hands of stranger except the bonajide purchaser for
value.
H
550 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

_A It may be noted here that even though strong reliance was placed on:
this decision but by reason of the contextual facts as noticed above the
decision is clearly distinguishable since re-marriage in 1953 as noted above
makes all the difference having due regard to the Act of 1856.

B In Lakhmi Chand v. Mt. Anandi, AIR (I 935) Privy Council 180 similar
is the treatment of Hindu Law about the widow's estate by reason of
subsequent unchastity. The law as declared by the Privy Council in !LR 5
Calcutta thus stands well accepted.

Two other decisions of this Court were strongly relied upon by the
C Respondent. The first of the two is the decision in the case of Vimala (K)
v. Veeraswamy (K), [1991] 2 SCC 375. This Court while dealing with an
application under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code observed that
the object of Section 125 is to prevent vagrancy and destitution and provides
a remedy for supply of food, clothing and shelter to the deserted wife and
w)len an attempt is made by the husband to negative the claim of a neglected
D wife depicitng her as a kept-mistress on the subsequent specious plea that
he was already married, the Court would insist on strict proof of earlier
marriage. This Court observed: "Therefore, the law which disentitles the
second wife from receiving maintenance from her husband under Section 125 '
Cr.P.C. for the sole reason that the marriage ceremony though performed in
E the customary form lacks legal sanctity can be applied only when the
husband satisfactorily proves the subsistence of a legal and valid marriage
particularly when the provision in the Code is a measure of social justice
intended to protect women and children. We are unable to find that. the
Respondent herein has discharged the heavy burden by tendering strict proof
of the fact in issue. We are, therefore, unable to agree that the appellant is
F not entitled to maintenance." Relying upon the observation of this Court the
learned Advocate contended that the social obligation to maintain the wife
thus, cannot be negated. We, however, while concurring with the broad
principles of law, express our inability to agree with the contentions as raised
in the present appeal in the present factual situation as discussed above. The
G observations of this Court were made vis-a-vis Section 125 of Cr.P.C. and
cannot possibly lend any assistance in the matter of in!erpretation of Section
14( 1) of 1956 Act or Section 2 of the Act of 1856.

Incidentally, Section 24 of the Succession Act of 1956 placed certain
restrictions on certain specified widows in the event of there being a re-
H marriage: while it is true that Section speaks of a pre-deceased son or son of
V.V. SIVAPRASAD v. KOTHURI VENKATESWARLU [BANERJEE, J.) 551
\ a pre-deceased son but this in our view is a reflection of the Shastric law on A
to the statute. The Act of 1956 in terms of Section 8 permits the widow of
a male Hindu to inherit simultaneously with the son, daughter and other heirs
specified iri class I of the Schedule. As a matter of fact she takes her share
absolutely and not the widow's estate only in terms of Section 14. Re-marriage
of a widow stands legalised by reason of the incorporation of Act of 1956 B
but on her re-marriage she forfeits the right to obtain any benefit from out
of her deceased husband's estate and Section 2 of the Act of 1856 as noticed
above is very specific that the estate in that event would pass on the next
heir of her deceased husband as if she were dead. Incidentally, the act of
1856 does not stand abrogated or repealed by the Succession Act of 1956
and it is only by Act 24 of 1983 that the Act stands repealed; As such the C
Act of 1856 had its fullest application in the contextual facts in 1956 when
Section 14 (I) of the Hindu Succession Act was relied upon by Defendant
No. I.

The other ground of objection raised by Mr. Nageshwara Rao i.e. the
plea of limitation: Limitation is a mixed question of law and fact and on the D
issue of limitation B.P. Jeevan Reddy, J. as the first appellate Court in the
instant matter had the following to state:
"The last question that remains to be considered, pertair.s to bar of
limitation. This issue has been considered by the trial court under
issue No. 12 and it found that the suit is not barred, in-so-far as E
defendants I-7 are concerned, but that it is barred as against the 8th
defendant (alleged adopted son of the !st defendant) and 9th
defendant. This is for the reason that the 8th defendant was not
originally imp leaded only on 29 .12.1971 in pursuance to an o!der of
the court in IA No, 2657171. But it must be noticed that the alleged
adoption was made on 30.11.1965, while the present suit was instituted F
on I. I 0.1965. The sale deed in favour of defendants 3,4 and 9, is dated
IO.l.1966 under a notice (Ex.B-36) and that, once they came to know
of the adoption, they ought to have filed a suit for declaration (that
the said adoption is not true or valid) within three years of the
adoptions or at any rate, within three years of their knowledge of the .G
adoption; since the 8th defendant has been impleaded only on
29 .12.1971, and because of Section 21 of the Limitation Act the suit
must be deemed to have been instituted as against the 8th defendant I.
only on the date of such impleading, the suit must be held to be
barred as against the 8th defendant. The said argument, however, fails
to take notice of the provisions contained in sub-section (2) of Section H
552 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A 21, which provides that nothing in sub-section (I) of Section 21 shall
apply to a case where a party is added or substituted owing to
assignment or devolution of any interest during the pendency of a
suit. Since the adoption has been made pending the suit, and also
because the alienation in favour of the 9th defendant is pending the
suit, the provisions contained in sub-section (I) of section 21 that the
B suit shall be deemed to be instituted as against the impleaded party
only on the date of such impleadings, is inapplicable. If so, it cannot
be said that the suit is barred by Article 113 of the Limitation Act. In
fact, the Trial Court has found that no such adoption ever took place,
and which finding is not questioned in this appeal. It cannot therefore,
c be said that the suit is barred by limitation."

We do feel it expedient to record our concurrence therewith and as such
come to the conclusion that the suit cannot be termed to be barred by the
laws of limitation.

D Having considered the matter from all perspectives, we do feel it
expedient to record that the Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High
Court clearly fell into an error in not considering the true effect of Section
2 of the Act of 1856. According to us final decision rendered by the learned
Single Judge on non-applicability of Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession
Act remains well sustained, though on a different line of reasoning as indicated
E hereinabove. Accordingly, it must be held that the Division bench was in error
in applying Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act on the fact situation
in the present case. ·

We, therefore, allow this appeal and set aside the order of the Division
F bench. The order as passed by the learned Single Judge stands restored. No
order as to costs.

A.K.T. , Appeal allowed.