SATYA CHARAN DUTTA vs URMILLA SUNDARI DASSI & ORS.

The Supreme Court interpreted the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, specifically Sections 8, 9, and 11, to determine the order of succession among heirs of a deceased Hindu widow. The Court held that brothers and sisters of the deceased husband are to be treated equally under Class II of the Schedule, rejecting the notion that the numerical order in the entries implies a hierarchy. Consequently, the three brothers of the deceased were not entitled to preference over the sister, affirming that all heirs in Class II share equally.