Hindu Succession Act

General Rules of Succession - Male Hindu

The property of the male Hindu dying intestate shall devolve in the following manner

1. Firstly upon all the heirs, being the relatives specified in Class I;
2. Secondly, if there is no heir of Class I, then upon heirs being the relatives specified in Class II;
3. Thirdly if there is no heir of any of the the classes, then upon the agnates of the deceased; (one person is said to be agnate of another if the two are related by blood or adoption wholly through males) and;
4. Lastly, if there is no agnate, then upon the cognates of the deceased. (One person is said to be a cognate of another if the two are related by blood or adoption but not wholly through male)