Legum Pacific ·
Imagine parents separate and a question arises about who will care for a child. Or a relative asks a court to be declared guardian of a minor. These are common situations where two Acts apply: the हिंदू अल्पावस्था और अभिभावक अधिनियम, 1956 (Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956) (for Hindus and certain others) and the गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट, 1890 (Guardians and Wards Act, 1890) (which governs court appointments and administration).
क्या कानून कहता है?
The हिंदू अल्पावस्था और अभिभावक अधिनियम, 1956 (Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956) defines a “minor” as a person who has not completed eighteen years (धारा 4). It sets out who are the natural guardians and what powers they have (धाराएँ 6–9). The Act says it is supplemental to the गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट, 1890 (Guardians and Wards Act, 1890) (धारा 2).
The गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट, 1890 (Guardians and Wards Act, 1890) gives the court power to appoint or declare guardians. The court must be guided by what appears, consistently with the law applicable to the minor, to be for the welfare of the minor (धारा 17). The गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट also describes duties of guardians, limits on their powers over property, and how courts supervise guardians (selected provisions in chapters and sections quoted below).
प्राकृतिक और वसीयतः नियुक्त गार्जियन कौन होते हैं?
The Hindu Act lists natural guardians for Hindu minors (धारा 6). For a boy or an unmarried girl, the order is the father and after him the mother. The custody of a child under five years is said to be ordinarily with the mother (धारा 6). For illegitimate children, the mother is first and then the father. For a married girl, the husband is the natural guardian (धारा 6). The Act also says natural guardianship of an adopted son passes to the adoptive father and then adoptive mother (धारा 7).
A father or mother can appoint a guardian by will. A guardian appointed by the father takes effect after the father’s death, subject to conditions stated in धारा 9 of the Hindu Act. The right of a guardian appointed by will ceases, for a girl, on her marriage (धारा 9).
The Hindu Act also says a minor cannot act as guardian of the property of another minor (धारा 10), and that a de facto guardian (one acting informally, without legal appointment) is not entitled to deal with a Hindu minor’s property merely because of that informal role (धारा 11). Where a minor has an undivided interest in joint family property under an adult manager, no guardian shall be appointed for that undivided interest (धारा 12).
कोर्ट कस्टडी का फैसला कैसे करती है?
The गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट requires the court to be guided by the child’s welfare when appointing a guardian (धारा 17). In deciding what is for the child’s welfare, the court must have regard to the child’s age, sex and religion; the character and capacity of the proposed guardian and his nearness of kin; the wishes, if any, of a deceased parent; and any existing or previous relations between the proposed guardian and the child or the child’s property (धारा 17). If the child is old enough to form an intelligent preference, the court may consider that preference (धारा 17). The court shall not appoint any person as guardian against that person’s will (धारा 17).
The court can appoint more than one guardian, and it may appoint separate guardians of the person and of the property (धारा 15). Where the court appoints a guardian for property situated outside its local jurisdiction, the court having jurisdiction where the property is situated must accept the certified order and give effect to it (धारा 16).
If a ward leaves or is removed from the custody of a guardian, and the court thinks it is for the child’s welfare to return, the court may order the child’s return and may cause the child to be arrested and delivered into the guardian’s custody (धारा 25).
गार्जियन के अधिकार और सीमाएँ (व्यक्ति और संपत्ति पर)
A guardian is in a fiduciary relation to the ward and must not make any profit out of the office, except as provided by the instrument of appointment (गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट, धारा 20). A guardian of the person must look to the child’s custody, support, health and education (धारा 24).
A guardian of the property must deal with the ward’s property as a prudent person would deal with his own (धारा 27). A guardian appointed by the court (other than a Collector or a testamentary guardian) may not, without previous permission of the court, mortgage, charge, transfer by sale, gift, exchange or otherwise any immovable property of the ward. Nor may such a guardian lease immovable property for more than five years or for any term extending beyond the ward’s majority by more than one year (धारा 29). Disposals in contravention of these restrictions are voidable by any person affected (धारा 30).
The court will grant permission under धारा 29 only in cases of necessity or evident advantage to the ward. The order granting permission must state the necessity or advantage, describe the property, and may attach conditions such as sale by public auction, payment of proceeds into court, or court sanction for completion of sale (धारा 31). The court may hear any person who appears in opposition before granting permission (धारा 31).
The court may from time to time define, restrict or extend a guardian’s powers as it considers for the advantage of the ward and consistent with the law applicable to the ward (धारा 32). A guardian may apply to the appointing court for its opinion or direction on present questions relating to management or administration of the ward’s property (धारा 33).
आम लोगों के लिए इसका मतलब क्या है?
If you are a natural guardian, the Hindu Act lists who you are and sets limits when you deal with immovable property (धाराएँ 6 और 8). If you wish to be a court-appointed guardian, the गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट explains how the court must decide, giving highest priority to the child’s welfare (धारा 17). Guardians have duties to care for the child’s person and to manage property prudently. Transfers that break statutory limits can be set aside (धाराएँ 8(2)–(4); 29–31).
मुख्य बातें
- The court must put the child’s welfare first when appointing a guardian (गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट, धारा 17; Hindu Act, धारा 13).
- A “minor” is under eighteen years (Hindu Act, धारा 4). Custody of a child under five is ordinarily with the mother (Hindu Act, धारा 6).
- Natural guardians and their order are set out in the Hindu Act (धारा 6); testamentary guardians are governed by धारा 9 of the Hindu Act.
- Guardians are fiduciaries and must not profit from their office (गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट, धारा 20). Guardians of property must act prudently (धारा 27).
- A guardian needs prior court permission for major dealings in immovable property; unlawful disposals are voidable (Hindu Act, धारा 8(2)–(4); गार्डियंस और वार्ड्स एक्ट, धाराएँ 29–31).
प्रयुक्त कानून
- Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 — धाराएँ 15, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33
- Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 — धाराएँ 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
आधिकारिक स्रोत
यह गाइड यह बताता है कि कानून खुद क्या कहता है। इन धाराओं की व्याख्या करने वाले कोर्ट के फैसले किसी खास केस में असर डाल सकते हैं। यह ऊपर दिए गए आधिकारिक टेक्स्ट्स के अनुसार 31 October 2026 तक का स्थिति बताता है.