Supreme Court Affirms Maintenance Rights of Widowed Daughter-in-Law from Father-in-Law's Property

The Supreme Court of India ruled that a widowed Hindu daughter-in-law is entitled to maintenance from her deceased father-in-law's property under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, regardless of whether her husband died before or after the father-in-law. The court emphasized this right as both a constitutional duty and a moral obligation, referencing the Manusmriti and rejecting classifications based on timing of deaths. The ruling arose from a dispute over Dr. Mahendra Prasad's estate involving his sons and widowed daughter-in-law Geeta Sharma.