Hindu Law (part 1)
Application of Hindu Law Persons subject to Hindu Law- Shastri Yagna Purushdasji v. Muldas Bhundardas Vaishya- It is extremely difficult, though not impossible, to define the Hindu religion in the way the other religions are defined. It embraces numerous views and ways of life. The term ‘Hindu’ is not to be found anywhere in the Dharmashastras. It is a foreign word. It is derived from the word ‘Sindhu’. Sindhu is the name of a river in Indian sub-continent. The word ‘Sindhu’ was mis-spelled as ‘Hindu’ by the Persians. The sub-continent came to be known as Hindustan and its people as Hindus. Thus etymologically, the word ‘Hindu’ does not signify a religion; it refers to a territory or nation. Hindu law is a personal law. So, Hindu law should define ‘who is a Hindu’, and upon whom the Hindu law applies. A portion of Hindu law has been codified by Parliament in four Acts- i) The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 ii) The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1955 iii) The Hindu...