Earlier women did not have any rights in the property and they were at the mercy of the male members of the family. Joint Hindu Family, unique institution, acted as refugee home of many women and widows and with the disappearance of the Joint Hindu Family, the plight of women worsened.
Successive governments have enacted various laws aiming at improving / conferring property rights to women. Hindu Women’s Rights to the Property Act, 1937, deals with the rights of Hindu widow, on her husband dying without making any will. In such cases, the widow or widows are entitled to the share of the property as that of a son. But, her interest in the property, Hindu Women Estate, is limited interest.