SITABAI & ANR. vs RAM CHANDRA

The Supreme Court held that joint family properties retain their character in the hands of a surviving brother when the widow of the deceased brother is alive and entitled to maintenance, as established in Gowli Buddanna v. C.I.T. Mysore. The Court further clarified that under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, an adopted child by a widow becomes a coparcener with the surviving brother, thus granting the adopted son rights to the joint family properties after the surviving brother's death. The Court ruled in favor of the appellants, allowing their claim to the joint family properties except for the half share bequeathed under the will.