2. Application of Act. (1) This Act applies- (a) to any person, who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or developments, including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj, (b) to any person who is a Buddhist, Jaina orKEEP READING

3. Definitions. In this Act unless the context otherwise requires- (a) the expressions “custom” and “usage” signify any rule which, having been continuously and uniformly observed for a long time, has obtained the force of law among Hindus in any local area, tribe, community, group or family; Provided that theKEEP READING

4. Overriding effect of Act. Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act- (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 of this Act shall cease to have effect with respect to anyKEEP READING

CHAPTER II – ADOPTION 5. Adoptions to be regulated by this Chapter. (1) No adoption shall be made after the commencement of this Act by or to a Hindu except in accordance with the provisions contained in this Chapter, and any adoption made in contravention of the said provisions shallKEEP READING

6. Requisites of a valid adoption. No adoption shall be valid unless- (i) the person adopting has the capacity, and also the right, to take in adoption; (ii) the person giving in adoption has the capacity to do so; (iii) the person adopted is capable of being taken in adoption;KEEP READING

8. Capacity of a female Hindu to take in adoption. Any female Hindu who is of sound mind and is not a minor has the capacity to take a son or daughter in adoption: Provided that if she has a husband living, see shall not adopt a son or daughterKEEP READING

9. Persons capable of giving in adoption. (1) No person except the father or mother or the guardian of a child shall have the capacity to give the child in adoption. (2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), the father or the mother, if alive, shall have equal rightKEEP READING

10. Persons who may be adopted. No person shall be capable of being taken in adoption unless the following conditions are fulfilled, namely- (i) he or she is a Hindu; (ii) he or she has not already been adopted; (iii) he or she has not been married, unless there isKEEP READING

11. Other conditions for a valid adoption. In every adoption, the following conditions must be complied with:- (i) if any adoption is of a son, the adoptive father or mother by whom the adoption is made must not have a Hindu son, son’s son or son’s son’s son (whether byKEEP READING

13. Right of adoptive parents to dispose of their properties. Subject to any agreement to the contrary, an adoption does not deprive the adoptive father or mother of the power to dispose of his or her property by transfer inter vivos or by will. Read Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance ActKEEP READING

14. Determination of adoptive mother in certain cases. (1) Where a Hindu who has a wife living adopts a child, she shall be deemed to be the adoptive mother. (2) Where an adoption has been made with the consent of more than one wife, the senior most in marriage among themKEEP READING

15. Valid adoption not to be cancelled. No adoption which had been validly made can be cancelled by the adoptive father or mother or any other person, nor can the adopted child renounce his or her status as such and return to the family of his or her birth. ReadKEEP READING

16. Presumption as to registered documents relating to adoption. Whenever any document registered under any law for the time being in force is produced before any court purporting to record an adoption made and is signed by the person giving and the person taking the child in adoption, the courtKEEP READING

17. Prohibition of certain payments. (1) No person shall receive or agree to receive any payment or other reward in consideration of the adoption of any person, and no person shall make or give or agree to make or give to any other person any payment or reward the receiptKEEP READING