A Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court of India concerned a family estate dispute worth over ₹41,000 crore, arising from a rejected maintenance claim. The Court examined whether a widow daughter-in-law who becomes a widow after the death of her father-in-law can claim maintenance from his estate under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956. Upholding the High Court, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 21 includes any widow of a son as a dependant, regardless of timing. A widow unable to maintain herself is entitled to maintenance……
