302 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
a share in her father’s property. But according to my viewpoint now when the patriarchal system is in vogue and the girl leaves her father’s house for that of her father-in-law; it would not be proper to give her any share out of the father’s property. In my opinion the daughter-in-law should be given the right to share her father-in-law’s property. As soon as the marriage is consummated, the daughter-in-law should be given the share equal to that of the son. Today the son enjoys the full right, and if any woman becomes widow, she is entitled to the right of maintenance only viz., rood and clothing. I am totally against it. Therefore, I would urge that the women should undoubtedly be given the right to share in the property, but that should be restricted to her father-in-law’s property only and not that belonging to her father.
Shri Mohan Lal Gautam (U. P. : General): If there is no fatherin-law ?
Seth Govind Das : Then in the husband’s house.
Shri Mohan Lal Gautam : If there is no husband.
Seth Govind Das : Then in the son’s house.
Shri Mohan Lal Gautam : And if there is no son ?
Mr. Tajamul Husain : And if she is not married then what would she do ?
Seth Govind Das : That is a separate thing. They do get from some source or the other. In the example which has been cited here that when there are twelve sons and thirteenth a daughter, and the twelve sons have got the right to distribute their father’s property, then why should not the thirteenth daughter be given the same right ? I would say that all the twelve sons live in their father’s house. The distribution which the twelve sons make is made at the same place.
Shri Krishna Chandra Sharma (U. P.: General): If the daughter also wants to live in the father’s house ?
Seth Govind Das : Since the daughter has got to adopt another house, this cannot be made applicable in her case. Another thing that has been added in respect of succession to property is that the right of succession will not be governed in accordance with the contents of the will. In cases, where the wills are not executed, disputes will arise. Not only this, disputes will arise even otherwise. The Honourable Dr. Ambedkar who is a renowned lawyer is aware of the fact as to what percentage of the will executed hithertofore were brought up before the Courts and on how many wills were the suits instituted ?