GUMMALAPURA TAGGINA MATADAKOTTURUSWAMI vs SETRA VEERAVVA AND OTHERS

The Supreme Court interpreted Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, which states that any property possessed by a female Hindu shall be held as full owner. The Court held that 'possession' includes both actual and constructive possession, and since the widow of K was deemed to be in constructive possession of her husband's estate, she became the full owner despite the adopted son being in actual possession. Consequently, the appellant's suit for declaring the adoption invalid was dismissed as not maintainable.