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Do courts grant women their inheritance shares? An analysis of case law in India

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  • Agarwal, Bina
  • Naik, Shruthi

Abstract

Recent decades have seen progressive reform of inheritance laws towards gender equality, both globally and in South Asia. Yet, a wide gender gap persists in actual ownership due to family resistance to endowing daughters with property. Given this, do women use courts to claim their rights across regions? Who are the opposing parties? What kind of property is most disputed? How long do cases take? To what extent do judgements favour women, and does the language of judgements reveal gender stereotypes? No prior study has addressed these questions.

Suggested Citation

  • Agarwal, Bina & Naik, Shruthi, 2024. "Do courts grant women their inheritance shares? An analysis of case law in India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:182:y:2024:i:c:s0305750x2400158x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106688
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    References listed on IDEAS

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