Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 — back to Table of Contents
Section 6. Natural guardians of a Hindu minor
The natural guardians of a Hindu minor; in respect of the minor’s person as well as in respect of the minor’s property (excluding his or her undivided interest in joint family property), are—
- (a) in the case of a boy or an unmarried girl—the father, and after him, the mother: provided that the custody of a minor who has not completed the age of five years shall ordinarily be with the mother;
- (b) in the case of an illegitimate boy or an illegitimate unmarried girl—the mother, and after her, the father;
- (c) in the case of a married girl—the husband:
Provided that no person shall be entitled to act as the natural guardian of a minor under the provisions of this section—
- (a) if he has ceased to be a Hindu, or
- (b) if he has completely and finally renounced the world by becoming a hermit (vanaprastha) or an ascetic (yati or sanyasi).
Explanation.—In this section, the expressions “father” and “mother” do not include a step-father and a step-mother.
Note: In Githa Hariharan v. Reserve Bank of India (1999), the Supreme Court read down clause (a) of this section, holding that the mother can act as natural guardian even during the father’s lifetime if he is not, in fact, taking care of the minor’s affairs — interpreting “after him” to mean “in the absence of” the father, rather than strictly after the father’s death.
