HINDU DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY ACT, 1916

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Hindu Disposition of Property 
1916: Act XV 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title and extent. 
1-A. Definition. 
2. Dispositions for the benefit of persons not in existence. 
3. Limitations and conditions. 
4. [Omitted] 
5. Application of this Act to the Khoja community. 
THE HINDU DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY 
ACT, 1916 
(XV of 1916) 
TEXT 
1
THE HINDU DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY ACT, 1916 
(XV of 1916) 
[9 February 1917] 
An 
Act 
to remove certain existing disabilities in respect of the power of disposition of property by 
Hindus for the benefit of persons not in existence at the date of such disposition. 
  WHEREAS it is expedient to remove certain existing disabilities in respect of the 
power of disposition of property by Hindus for the benefit of persons not in existence at the 
date of such disposition;  
  It is hereby enacted as follows:– 
1. Short title and extent .– (1) This Act may be called the Hindu Disposition of 
Property Act, 1916. 
  (2) 
2
[
3
[It extends to the whole of 
4
[the Punjab.]]]  
5
[1-A. Definition.– In this Act, “Government” means Government of the Punjab.] 
2.  Dispositions for the benefit of persons not in existence .– Subject to the 
limitations and provisions specified in this Act, no  disposition of property by a Hindu, 
whether by transfer inter vivos or by will, shall be invalid by reason only that any 
person for whose benefit it may have been made was not in existence at the date of 
such disposition. 
3.  Limitations and conditions .– The limitations and provisions referred to in 
section 2 shall be the following, namely:– 
(a) in respect of dispositions by transfer inter vivos , those contained  in 
6
[Chapter II] of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882
7
, and 
(b) in respect of dispositions by will, those contained in 
1
[sections 113, 
114, 115 and 116 of the [*]
2
 Succession Act, 1925]. 
                                                           
1For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1916, Pt. V, p.2; for Report of Select Committee, see ibid., 1916, 
Pt. V, p.76; and for Proceedings in Council, see ibid., 1916, Pt. V, pp. 19, 509, 542 and 585. 
2Substituted by the Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordina nces Order, 1949 vide Notification No.  G.G.O. 4, dated 25 th March, 
1949, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated March 28, 1949, pp. 223-283, Article 3 and Schedule. 
3Substituted for the words “it extends to all the Provinces” by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (XXI of 1960), 
published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 9, 1960, pp. 725-845. 
4Substituted for the word “Pakistan” by the Hindu Disposition of Property (Amendment) Act 2012 (XVII of 2012),  vide 
Notification No. PAP/Legis-2(79)/2011/530, dated 11th February, 2012, published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 
February 11, 2012, pp. 40199-40200, s. 2.  
5Inserted by the Act ibid., s. 3.  
6Substituted for the words and figures “ sections 13, 14 and 20” by the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Supplementary Act, 
1929 (XXI of 1929), published in the Punjab Gazette, Part-IV, dated October 25, 1929, pp. 133-153, s. 12. 
7IV of 1882. 
4.  
3
[ * * * * * * * * *   ] 
5.  Application of this Act to the Khoja community .– Where the 
4
[
5
[ 
Government]] is of opinion that the Khoja community in 
6
[
7
[the Punjab]] or any part 
thereof desire that the provisions of this Act should be extended to such community, 
8
[it] may, by notification in the 
9
[Official Gazette], declare that the provisions of this 
Act, with the substitution of the word “Khojas” or “Khoja,” as  the case may be, for the 
word “Hindus” or “Hindu” wherever those words occur, shall apply to that community 
in such area as may be specified in the notification, and this Act shall thereupon 
have effect accordingly. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                     
1Substituted for the words and figures “ sections 100 and 101 of the Indian Succession Act, 1865” by the Transfer of Property 
(Amendment) Supplementary Act, 1929 (XXI of 1929), published in the Punjab Gazette, Part -IV, dated October 25, 1929, pp. 
133-153, s. 12. 
2Originally it is as “the Indian Succession Act, 1925”. 
3Omitted by the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Supplementary Act, 1929 (XXI of 1929), published in the Punjab Gazette, 
Part-IV, dated October 25, 1929, pp. 133-153, s. 12. 
4Substituted for the words “Governor General in Council” by the Government of Ind ia (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, 
dated 18th March, 1937, published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344. 
5Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Hindu Disposition of Property (Amendment) Act 2012 (XVII of 2012), 
vide Notification No. PAP/Legis -2(79)/2011/530, dated 11 th February, 2012, published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), 
dated February 11, 2012, pp. 40199-40200, s. 4.  
6Substituted for the words “British India” by the Adaptation o f Central Acts and Ordinances Order, 1949, vide Notification No. 
G.G.O. 4, dated 25 th March, 1949, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated March 28, 1949 , pp. 223-283, 
Article 3 and Schedule. 
7Substituted for the words “the Provinces” b y the Hindu Disposition of Property (Amendment) Act 2012 (XVII of 2012), vide 
Notification No. PAP/Legis-2(79)/2011/530, dated 11th February, 2012, published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 
February 11, 2012, pp. 40199-40200, s. 4.  
8Substituted for the word “he” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, dated 18th March, 1937, 
published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344. 
9Substituted for the words “Gazette of India” by the Order ibid., s. 4 and Table of General Adaptations.