Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Satish Mishra

The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act (HMGA), 1956, is an Indian law that codifies the rights and responsibilities of guardians for Hindu minors. It was enacted to supplement the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, ensuring that the welfare of the child remains the “paramount consideration” in all legal matters.

Under Section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, the natural guardianship of a legitimate child vests in the father. A mother can be natural guardian of her illegitimate children, but when it comes to her children begotten from a marriage, she can be their natural guardian only after the father.

Key Definitions

Minor: A person who has not completed the age of 18 years.
Guardian: A person responsible for the care of a minor, their property, or both.
Applicability: The Act applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs, including those domiciled in India but residing abroad.

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Classification of Guardians

The Act recognizes four main types of guardians:

Natural Guardians (Section 6):
- Legitimate Children: The father is the primary guardian, followed by the mother. However, custody of children under five years “ordinarily” stays with the mother.
- Illegitimate Children: The mother is the primary guardian, followed by the father.
- Married Girls: The husband is the natural guardian of a minor wife.
Testamentary Guardians (Section 9): Guardians appointed by a parent’s will. A father’s appointment is ineffective if the mother survives him, but it “revives” if she dies without appointing her own guardian.
Court-Appointed Guardians: Appointed by a court when necessary for the minor’s welfare.
De Facto Guardians (Section 11): Persons who manage a minor’s affairs without legal appointment. They are prohibited from disposing of or dealing with the minor’s property.

According to Section 6 the natural guardians of a Hindu minor, in respect of the minor’s person as well as in respect of the minor’s property (excluding his or her undivided interest in joint family property), are—

(a) in the case of a boy or an unmarried girl—the father, and after him, the mother: provided that the custody of a minor who has not completed the age of five years shall ordinarily be with the mother;

(b) in case of an illegitimate boy or an illegitimate unmarried girl—the mother, and after her, the father;

(c) in the case of a married girl—the husband: Provided that no person shall be entitled to act as the natural guardian of a minor under the provisions of this section—

(a) if he has ceased to be a Hindu, or

(b) if he has completely and finally renounced the world by becoming a hermit (vanaprastha) or an ascetic (yati or sanyasi).

Explanation.- In this section, the expressions” father” and” mother” do not include a step- father and a step- mother.

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Powers and Restrictions (Section 8)

General Power: A natural guardian can perform acts “necessary or reasonable and proper” for the benefit of the minor or their estate.
Immovable Property: A guardian cannot sell, mortgage, gift, or exchange a minor’s immovable property without prior court permission.
Leasing: Court permission is required to lease property for more than five years or for a term extending more than one year beyond the minor’s 18th birthday.
Voidable Acts: Any property disposal in violation of these rules is voidable at the instance of the minor.

Even if the father neglects to look after, or to discharge his obligations towards, the minor, or refuses to act natural guardian, the mother cannot be the natural guardian of the minor so long as the father is alive.

Merely because the father is not residing with the family, he does not cease to be the natural guardian. The natural guardian ceases to be so only under the two ground mentioned in the proviso to the section.

In such an events, the only course open to the mother is to take legal proceedings and obtain appropriate orders of the court to act as the guardian of the minor.

In a case where the mother and father had fallen out and were living separately and the minor daughter was under the care and protection of her mother (though her father was alive) the Supreme Court held that the mother should be considered as the natural guardian of the minor girl.

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Important Limitations

Step-parents: Step-fathers and step-mothers are not considered natural guardians under this Act.
Joint Family Property (Section 12): No guardian is appointed for a minor’s undivided interest in joint family property if it is managed by an adult member (Karta). Only High Courts retain the jurisdiction to appoint a guardian in such cases.
Disqualifications: A person loses their right to be a natural guardian if they cease to be a Hindu or renounce the world by becoming an ascetic.

CASE STUDY

Toshani Naik vs Subhranta Naik on 16 March, 2020

In the given case the petition is that the respondent (husband) had filed a divorce petition against the petitioner. The same was allowed. However, the appeal against the decree of divorce passed by the trial Court is pending before this court. Thereafter, the petitioner had filed an application under Section 6 of Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act for custody of the minor son. In that application, the evidence of the petitioner had already been completed, whereafter, the evidence of the respondent had started. However, before the cross- examination of witness of the respondent could be completed, the evidence of the respondent has been closed by order of the Court, thereby, denying the opportunity to the petitioner to cross-examine the witness(es) of the respondent.

Still further, it is submitted that the petitioner would complete the cross- examination of the said witness(es) if she is granted opportunity for that purpose. Hence, it is submitted that the order passed by the Court below deserve to be set aside.

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Having heard the learned counsel and having perused the file, this Court finds that the petitioner has been granted several opportunities to cross-examine the witness(es). The record also shows that the petitioner has repeatedly changed the counsels. Therefore, the assessment of the Court below that the petitioner might be seeking time for cross-examination only, as the tactics for delaying the proceedings, is not wholly unjustified. However, the fact remains that it is the application filed by the petitioner only, which the trial Court is considering. Therefore, it would be in the interest of justice if she is granted one more effective opportunity to cross- examine the witness(s) of the respondent however, by putting her to some appropriate financial burden.

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In view of the above, the impugned order is quashed and the present petition is disposed of with a direction to the trial Court to grant one effective opportunity to the petitioner to cross-examine the witness(es) of the respondent subject to payment of Rs.2,000 as cost. The cost is ordered to 2 of 3 be deposited with the District Legal Services Authority, Gurugram.

However, it is clarified that the petitioner shall be granted opportunity to cross-examine the witness(es) of the respondent only after she produces before the trial Court, the receipt of having deposited the cost, as ordered above.

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Landmark Judicial Interpretations

Githa Hariharan v. Reserve Bank of India (1999): The Supreme Court ruled that the mother and father are joint natural guardians. The term “after” in Section 6 was interpreted to mean “in the absence of” the father, rather than only after his death, ensuring gender equality.
Roxann Sharma v. Arun Sharma (2015): Reinforced that custody of children under five should stay with the mother unless it is clearly detrimental to the child’s welfare

For case specific advice, please contact child custody lawyers advocates in Chandigarh Panchkula Mohali Zirakpur Derabassi Kharar Baltana Mullanpur etc.

Post Written by – Research Team of LegalSeva (LawFirm) of Satish Mishra Advocate. Responses from Google’s AI Overview included in Post.

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Consult a qualified lawyer for advice specific to your case.