Clears Four Women of Will Forgery Allegations in Landmark Property Dispute Case

New Delhi, August 2, 2025 On Friday, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed that women often serve as better custodians of ancestral property. It also acquitted four women accused of forging a will in a decades-old inheritance case.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and S V N Bhatti noted that women in Indian families usually protect ancestral properties more diligently than men. The court made this remark while dropping forgery charges against four Delhi women. A male relative had accused them of manipulating a will to claim family assets.

The case revolved around property once owned by Om Prakash, a resident of Delhi’s Vikas Puri, who passed away in 1994. His younger son, Surender Kumar, alleged that his sisters and mother had forged a will to unlawfully claim ownership of the property and its associated rights.

The apex court rejected the allegations, calling the complaint “suspicion, not evidence.” It stressed that the legal process had caused the women years of hardship. The court also noted that they had peacefully held the property for decades, proving they were preserving the estate.

“Women are usually better custodians of family property,” Justice Bhatti stated. “Courts should recognize this, especially when women live on and maintain ancestral assets.”

The ruling not only cleared the women of criminal charges but also sent a broader message supporting gender equity in property rights. Legal experts praised the judgment as a step toward recognizing the contributions of women in maintaining and protecting family heritage.

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