HUF with only Female Members – A Hindu widow being the sole surviving member, cannot constitute a HUF. Gangamma Vs. Agl. ITO (1991) 188 ITR 1 (Ker.). After the Amendment in the Hindu Succession Act, in 2005, a Hindu Widow and her unmarried daughter can constitute a HUF, even when the widow had not adopted a son since, daughter is also a coparcener.
Page Contents
Question:- Whether a person with wife and two daughters only can have HUF?
Answer:- Whether only one male member is suffice to form an HUF is now legally well settled as per decision of Supreme Court in case of Gowli Buddana vs CIT (1966) 60 ITR 293 . An HUF is no different than a joint property. The concept of HUF is very simple codified in Hindu law .A Hindu joint family consists of lineally descended persons -like Great Grand father, Grand father ,father, uncle, son etc. All these persons have right over common ancestral property by birth. The dictum that once Hindu undivided family always Hindu undivided family” has been accepted all along.
The expression ‘Hindu undivided family’ in the Income-tax Act is same as a joint family which may consist of a single male member and widows of deceased male members. In Dr Prakash B Sultane v CIT ([2005] 148 Taxman 353) the Bombay High Court held that that the property does not lose its character merely because at one point of time there was only one male member or one co-parcener.
In this case , the assessee was a doctor by profession assessable in his hands as an individual. The assessee was a member of a bigger Hindu undivided family which was partitioned on January 1, 1972. At the time of partition and right up to January 22, 1980 the assessee was a bachelor. During these years, the income from assets on partition was assessed in his hands as his individual income.
When the assessee got married on January 22, 1980, he claimed that the income from assets received on partition is assessable in status of the Hindu undivided family consisting of himself and his wife.
The Assessing Officer observed that the decisions referred to by the assessee were considered in the judgment of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in CIT v. Vishnukumar Bhaiya (142 I.T.R. 357). Relying upon this judgment, he rejected the application of the assessee and continued to assess his income from the Hindu undivided family property in his individual capacity. In the above case also, the assessee had obtained his share on partition before his marriage and, on his marriage, had claimed the status of Hindu undivided family. His claim was rejected on the ground that “until a son is born the status of the assessee would continue to be that of an individual. However, the High Court ruled otherwise and upheld the contention of the assessee that once HUF property always HUF property”
HUF without Females –
A Single male coparcener without a female member does not constitute a HUF. The only way by which a single coparcener can constitute a HUF is to marry a woman. He and his wifewould constitute a HUF. Premkumar Vs. CIT (1980) 121 ITR 347 (All.)
Wife in a HUF:
For Example, Mr.A / Mrs.A / Mr.B (Son) / Mr.C Daughter of a HUF, then Mrs. A wife of Mr.A is called a member only and not a coparcener. Hence, she cannot ask for partition but when the property is partitioned, she will get an equal share as that of a coparcener. Wife, not being a coparcener obviously cannot become a karta .
Widow in a HUF –
With the passing of the HIndu Succession Act, 1956, widow has been designated as class I heir to male HIndu dying intestate. In case of sole surviving coparcener having only a wife but no issue the widow is entitled to succeed to the entire estate of her deceased husband, if he died intestate. The entire interest of the deceased in coparcenery will be part of the estate passing on the death of such person. Bhariben S. Jhaveri Vs. CED (1999) 238 ITR 995 (Guj.). When a Hindu Widow adopts a male heir, the HUF would be constituted by the Hindu widow along with the adopted son. C. Krishnaprasad Vs. CIT (1974) 97 ITR 493 (SC). After the Hindu Succession Act’s amendment in 2005, even widows of predeceased sons are now legally entitled for inheriting the deceased’s property even if they had remarried.
Females and Gift:
A Female member (Wife) can gift her property so as to constitute it as HUF Property. CIT Vs. M. Balasubramanian (1990) 182 ITR 117 (Mad.)Daughters are now coparceners. Hence, now, they can throw their individual assets into Family Hotch Potch subject to the provisions of Sec.64(2).
Q.- CAN A MALE PRESON WITH SINGLE SON AND SINGLE DAUGHTER CREAT HUF AFTER DEATH OF HIS WIFE ?
Can a divorced mother open a huf account along with her unmarried daughter and unmarried son
IN A HUF THERE WERE THREE MEMBERS IN A FAMILY FATHER MOTHER AND SON. THS HUF PARTITIONED AND SON(UN MARRIED) GOES OUT. THEN FATHER AND MOTHER FORMED ANOTHER HUF AS IT HAD ANCESTARAL PROPERTY. . NOW FATHER DIES LEAVING BEHIND HIS WIFE IN HIS HUF. NOW TO WHOM THE ANCESTERAL ASSETS .OF HUF WILL GO AND IN WHAT CAPACITY? KINDLY REPLY.
WHEN THE HUSBAND DEATH AND CHILD IS UNMARRIED IN CASE WHO CAN BECAME A KARTA OF HUF?
Can a Male memebr survived with only two married daugheters form an HUF ?
Hi, I am unmarried woman and living with my widow mother. Can my mother and myself constitute an HUF with my mother as the karta ? Where can I get the affidavit format for the same ?
All formats I found are for men karta only . We want to apply for HUF pan. Appreciate an urgent advice
a widow who have no son but three married daughter and also living with her son in law and DAUGHTER AT HER OWN HOUSE WHICH WAS PURCHASED BY HIS HUSBAND CAN BE A KARTA?
What is the status of the assets of an HUF which now remains with a deceased mans wife and three married daughters , there is no reference to HUF assets in his will ?
What will be the status of the property received by a married daughter on the partition of her father’s HUF? Will it be her personal property(Istridhan) or will it be her HUF property? In case HUF Property, then can she be the Karta?
Can females (whether wife, daughter and daughter in law)counted as members of HUF??
Hi,
Can an umarried daughter and widow mother constitute HUF?
regards
daisy
In my opinion she can claim in her father property. If it is created by her father from his own earning. Whereas no will is prepared.
VINOD KUMAR GUPTA
Can a married daughter claim her share in her father’s property after her father’s death(Where no will is prepared by Father)? Does she have a pri pasu charge as compared to her brothers and mother?