Ladakh Buddhists Succession to Property Act, 2000 (1943 A. D.)

No: 18 Dated: Dec, 14 2000

THE LADAKH BUDHISTS SUCCESSION TO PROPERTY ACT, 2000 (1943 A. D.)

(Act No. XVIII of Samvat 2000)

    An Act to define and amend in certain respects the law relating to succession to property of the Buddhists of Ladakh.

    Preamble.–– Whereas it is expedient to define and amend in certain respets the law relating to succession to property of the Buddhists of Ladakh ;

It is hereby enacted as follows :––

1. Short title, extent and application.—(i) This Act may be called the Ladakh Buddhists Succession to Property Act, 2000.

(ii) It shall extend to the whole of Jammu and Kashmir State , but shall apply to the Budhists who have their domicile in Ladakh.

2. Definitions.— In the Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,––

(a) ‘‘Buddhist ’’ means the person who professes the Budhist faith or religion :

(b) ‘‘Ladakh’’ means the District Ladakh.

3. Right of all sons to succeed in equal shares. — On the death of a Buddhist his property, where he leaves more than one son, shall notwithstanding any law or custom to the contraty but subject to any valid disposition thereof which he may have made during his lifetime, be inherited by all his sons in equal shares :

Provided that sons of pre-deceased sons , and sons of pre-deceased sons of pre-deceased sons , shall inherit per stripes, that is to say , the sons of a pre-deceased son shall take the share which would have been taken by him , and likewise the grandsons of a pre-deceased son shall take the share which their father would have taken.

4. Saving.—The provisions of this Act shall not affect any right of succession accrued or any title to property acquired before the commencement of this Act.