CHRISTIANS in India are supporting a recent law commission recommendation to give Christian women the right to inherit the property of their deceased adult children.
India’s law commission on September 12 recommended to the federal government that an amendment be made to the Indian Succession Act, 1925, which governs Christian rights.
Under the current law, Christian women have no right to inherit the property of their deceased children who have not written a will. The law gives inheritance rights only to fathers and in the case of the father’s death, to siblings.
The recommendations came after the government asked the law commission to look into the matter following petitions by various Christian women groups.
“This has been a long-pending decision. It has come on the demands of the Christian women who have been making representations before this government and the governments before it,” said John Dayal, general secretary of the All India Christian Council and a member of the National Integration Council.
A senior law ministry official told ucanews.com that based on the recommendations, the government will soon bring an amendment before parliament.
However, while lauding the move, some Christian leaders believe any change in the law should be made only through consultation with the affected parties.
Sister Helen Saldanha, secretary of the office for women of the Indian bishops’ conference, said a change in the law would help widows who are dependent on their sons.
She added that the “government through consultation must engage the Christian community in areas of personal laws”.
Echoing the same views, Samuel Jaykumar of the National Council of Churches in India, said they will have to “wait and watch what the government comes up with”.
“Concerned groups should be taken into confidence before amending the bill otherwise it will be of no use,” he said. UCA News
