| Section | Rule | Key Concept | Case Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Application of the Act | Applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. | |
| 3 | Definitions | Defines heir, intestate (no will), and related terms. | |
| 4 | Overriding effect | This Act overrides (prevails over) other conflicting laws. | |
| 5 | Act not to apply in certain cases | Certain properties are excluded from this Act. | |
| 6 | Devolution of coparcenary property | Daughter gets equal right as son in joint family property. | Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma Prakash v. Phulavati |
| 8 | General rules of succession (male) | Property of male Hindu goes to Class I heirs first. | |
| 9 | Order of succession | Heirs are classified in order (Class I, Class II). | |
| 10 | Distribution among Class I heirs | Explains how property is divided among Class I heirs. | |
| 11 | Distribution among Class II heirs | Property goes to Class II heirs if no Class I heirs. | |
| 12 | Order among agnates | Explains order of inheritance among agnates (male relatives). | |
| 13 | Order among cognates | Explains order among cognates (relatives through females). | |
| 14 | Property of female Hindu | Female gets full ownership of property (absolute owner). | V. Tulasamma v. Sesha Reddy |
| 15 | Succession of female Hindu | Explains how property of female Hindu is distributed. | |
| 16 | Order of succession (female) | Gives priority order of heirs for female property. | |
| 17 | Special provisions for certain states | Applies special rules in some regions. | |
| 18 | Full blood preferred | Full blood relatives preferred over half blood. | |
| 19 | Mode of succession | Heirs take property together unless specified. | |
| 20 | Right of child in womb | Child in womb has right if born alive. | |
| 21 | Presumption in simultaneous deaths | If unclear who died first, special rule applies. | |
| 22 | Preferential right | Heirs have preference to buy property from co-heirs. | |
| 23 | Dwelling house (omitted) | Earlier restricted female rights in house (now removed). | |
| 24 | Certain widows disqualified (omitted) | Earlier rule disqualified some widows (now removed). | |
| 25 | Murderer disqualified | A person who commits murder cannot inherit. | |
| 26 | Convert’s descendants | Children of converted persons may lose inheritance rights. | |
| 27 | Disqualification effect | Disqualified person treated as if not alive. | |
| 28 | No disqualification except stated | No one is disqualified except as per this Act. | |
| 29A | Equal rights to daughters (state amendment) | Gives daughters equal rights in some states (before 2005 amendment). | |
| 30 | Testamentary succession | Property can be transferred by will. |