KEHAR SINGH & ORS. vs DEWAN SINGH & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under the customary law of Jats in Amritsar District, a formal adoption entails a complete severance from the natural family, allowing the adopted son to inherit from the collateral relatives of the adoptive father. The Court emphasized that if the adoption is merely an appointment of an heir, the appointed heir does not gain such rights. The findings of the lower courts were upheld, confirming that K's adoption was informal and did not confer preferential heir status to the lands left by S.