Act Number: 78

Act Name: The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956

Year: 1956

Enactment Date: 1956-12-21

Long Title: An Act to amend and codify the law relating to adoptions and maintenance among Hindus.

Ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice

Department: Legislative Department

Section 3: Definitions.
    In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,―
         (a) the expressions "custom" and "usage" signify any rule which, having been continuously and uniformly observed for a long time, has obtained the force of law among Hindus in any local area, tribe, community, group or family:
         Provided that the rule is certain and not unreasonable or opposed to public policy: and
         Provided further that, in the case of a rule applicable only to a family, it has not been discontinued by the family;
         (b) "maintenance" includes―
             (i) in all cases, provision for food, clothing, residence, education and medical attendance and treatment;
             (ii) in the case of an unmarried daughter, also the reasonable expenses of and incident to her marriage;
         (c) "minor" means a person who has not completed his or her age of eighteen years.
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