Equal Land Rights for Married Daughters in Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to introduce a landmark legal amendment granting married daughters equal rights in their father’s agricultural land.
This move, proposed under an amendment to the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006, marks a historic leap in rural women’s empowerment — one that could reshape property ownership patterns across the state.

Currently, the law allows inheritance only for unmarried daughters, sons, and widows upon a landowner’s death. Married daughters inherit only if none of these exist — a discriminatory provision that has persisted for decades.

The proposed reform seeks to delete the word “unmarried” from Section 108(2) of the Revenue Code — ensuring that all daughters, regardless of marital status, enjoy equal succession rights.

Why This Change Matters

Land is the backbone of economic power in rural India. Yet for generations, daughters have been excluded from agricultural inheritance under outdated social and legal norms.

By giving married daughters a rightful share, the amendment will:

• Strengthen economic independence among rural women.
• Ensure gender parity in family property rights.
• Reduce legal disputes over inheritance.
• Improve social security for widowed or divorced daughters.

Experts say this is not just a symbolic change — it can shift family power dynamics and rural asset distribution, giving women direct ownership and financial autonomy.

The Current Law (Before Amendment)

Under the existing Section 108(2):

• Upon the death of a male landowner, his land passes to his widow, sons, and unmarried daughters.
• Married daughters only inherit if there are no widow, son, or unmarried daughter.

This exclusionary clause has long been criticized for violating the constitutional right to equality (Article 14) and the Hindu Succession Act’s spirit, which already gives daughters equal rights in ancestral property.

How UP Will Join MP and Rajasthan

Both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have already amended their state laws to provide equal agricultural inheritance rights to daughters — regardless of marital status.
With this proposal, Uttar Pradesh is set to align itself with these progressive states.

The change, once approved by the Cabinet and State Assembly, will apply prospectively — meaning it will cover inheritances that occur after the date of enforcement, not retroactively.

Who Benefits Most

This amendment will particularly benefit:

• Widowed and divorced daughters, who often return to their parental homes and depend on family property.
• Married daughters from rural backgrounds, who contribute to family agriculture but lack formal ownership.

It will also reduce dependence on brothers or in-laws, giving women direct title ownership and legal identity in land records.

Legal Process Ahead

The Revenue Council has finalized the draft and will forward it for vetting by:

1. Law Department
2. Finance Department
3. Legislative Department

After Cabinet and Assembly approval, it will become law through gazette notification.

Until then, it remains a proposed amendment, but one that carries deep social significance.

Social and Political Context

Analysts suggest that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s initiative is strategically aimed at strengthening women’s rights in rural Uttar Pradesh — a voter base that has become increasingly influential.
However, beyond electoral calculus, the move could genuinely redefine rural gender equity in property — long considered the final frontier of empowerment.

Conclusion

If passed, this reform will make Uttar Pradesh the largest Indian state to guarantee equal inheritance rights to all daughters, married or unmarried.
For millions of rural women, it’s more than a law — it’s recognition of dignity, equality, and ownership.

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