Umamageshwari Maruthapan
The Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian have issued notice on a petition seeking removal of irregularities in the laws relating to succession and inheritance and to make them consistent with Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Indian Constitution.
“Uniformity in succession and inheritance is not only necessary to secure gender justice, gender equality and the dignity of women but also essential to promote fraternity, unity and national integration but the Centre has not taken any steps in this regard till date,” the petition stated.
Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, the petitioner, requested the Court to direct the Centre to frame gender-neutral, religion-neutral, and uniform guidelines of succession and inheritance laws for all Indian citizens.
It also seeks directions to the Law Commission of India to analyse on how developed countries have framed the laws relating to succession and inheritance and also to look into the related International Convention and finally to prepare a report within 3 months.
