#Customary Law

The Supreme Court ruled that customary law, particularly agnatic succession among Oraon tribes, must be strictly proved under Section 48 of the Evidence Act. The judgment sets aside concurrent lower court findings, reinforcing that daughters have no inheritance rights under the custom and the nearest male agnate inherits in the absence of direct heirs. This ruling clarifies the burden of proof in tribal property disputes and limits appellate interference under Article 136.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court ruled that under Meo customary law, a widow’s adoption of her daughter’s son is valid even without the consent of her husband’s collaterals. The court held that a registered adoption deed and conduct suffice to extinguish reversionary rights, making lineage and formalities directory rather than mandatory.

Chhattisgarh High Court holds that Scheduled Tribe members are governed by customary law unless proven to be fully Hinduised; long-standing mutation entries bar stale claims.