{"id":71014,"date":"2025-10-30T11:01:46","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T05:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=71014"},"modified":"2025-10-30T12:08:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T06:38:03","slug":"property-rights-of-minors-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/property-rights-of-minors-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Property Rights of Minors in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Property Rights of Minors Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that a person can <\/span><b>reject a property sale<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> made by their guardian <\/span><b>after turning 18<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if it was done without court approval.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court said this can be done either by filing a case or through actions\u2014for example, reselling the property\u2014within the legal time limit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale clarified that a formal lawsuit is not always necessary, reaffirming that a minor\u2019s property rights can be protected by their clear conduct showing refusal of the sale.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Laws Governing Property Rights of Minors<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Property transactions involving minors are regulated by three key laws:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian Contract Act, 1872<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Minors Cannot Enter into Contracts<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under <\/span><b>Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, only adults of sound mind can enter into valid contracts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any contract made by a minor is void from the beginning (void ab initio). This means it cannot be enforced by or against the minor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exceptions:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the contract benefits the minor or provides necessities like food or education, the cost may be recovered from the minor\u2019s property.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A guardian can enter into a contract only if it benefits the minor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A minor cannot be a business partner but may receive profit shares under a valid agreement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Restrictions on Guardian\u2019s Power to Sell Property<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under <\/span><b>Section 8 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1956, a natural guardian can manage a minor\u2019s property only for their benefit.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The guardian cannot sell, mortgage, gift, or lease immovable property without court approval.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If such a sale happens, <\/span><b>Section 8(3)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> makes it \u201cvoidable at the instance of the minor\u201d, meaning the minor can cancel it after turning 18.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, <\/span><b>Section 29 of the Guardians and Wards Act<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1890 also says a guardian needs court permission to dispose of a ward\u2019s property.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>How a Minor Can Challenge the Sale After Majority<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a guardian sells property without permission, the law allows the now-adult person to challenge it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditionally, courts held that a formal case must be filed to cancel such a sale.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, in <\/span><b>Abdul Rahman v. Sukhdayal Singh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (1905), the court ruled that filing a suit is not always necessary \u2014 a clear act of repudiation, like reselling the property, is enough to show rejection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Time Limit for Challenging Such Sales<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><b>Limitation Act, 1963<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the person has three years after turning 18 to challenge or reject a property sale made by their guardian without court approval.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Background of the Case<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dispute involved two small plots (No. 56 and 57) in Davanagere, Karnataka, bought in 1971 by a father in the names of his three minor sons.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acting as their natural guardian, he later sold both plots without obtaining mandatory court approval.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After turning 18, the sons resold both plots to another person, leading to two separate ownership disputes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>What Happened in the Lower Courts<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Plot 56 case, the High Court (2003) ruled that the sons\u2019 resale amounted to a valid rejection of their father\u2019s earlier sale. The ruling became final as it was not challenged.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Plot 57 case, the buyer filed a case in 1997 claiming ownership.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trial court dismissed the suit, holding that the father\u2019s sale was voidable and had been repudiated when the sons sold it after reaching adulthood.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Appeals and High Court Ruling<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first appellate court and the High Court later <\/span><b>reversed<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the trial court\u2019s decision, saying the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sons\u2019 later sale was invalid because they had not filed a formal case to cancel their father\u2019s sale<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The High Court declared the buyer as the rightful owner of Plot 57.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Supreme Court Appeal<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This decision was challenged before the Supreme Court, which was asked to decide whether a person who was a minor at the time of sale must file a formal case to cancel the sale or can reject it by conduct after attaining majority.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Supreme Court on How Minors Can Reject Property Sales<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court clarified how a person can repudiate (reject) a property sale made by their guardian without court approval once they become an adult.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court ruled that a <\/span><b>minor, after turning 18<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, can reject such a sale in <\/span><b>two ways<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>By filing a formal case (suit)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to cancel the sale deed, or<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>By clear conduct<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that shows they do not accept the earlier sale \u2014 for example, <\/span><b>reselling the property<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or taking actions inconsistent with the guardian\u2019s sale.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court said that once the person rejects the sale, it becomes <\/span><b>void from the beginning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the <\/span><b>buyer gains no rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over the property.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Application in This Case<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court observed that the sons, after becoming adults, sold the same property within three years \u2014 the period allowed under law.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their names still appeared in the revenue records, and the earlier buyers had never taken possession.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This conduct was enough to prove that the sons had repudiated their father\u2019s sale, so no separate case was needed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-law\/sc-minors-property-sale-guardians-majority-10331697\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Supreme Court clarified that minors can reject unauthorized property sales by guardians after turning 18\u2014either by filing a case or through clear conduct.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":71048,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,3456,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-71014","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-property-rights-of-minors","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71014\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}