Can children claim a share in property inherited by their father? Karnataka HC explains when they can—and cannot

The Karnataka High Court ruled that property inherited by a father from his grandfather's self-acquired assets does not automatically become ancestral property.

Children cannot claim a birthright in property that remains the father's self-acquired property, even if derived from their grandfather.

The court rejected a woman's claim for equal share in properties originally belonging to her grandfather, as they were self-acquired and not ancestral.

Coparcenary rights by birth arise only in ancestral or coparcenary property, not in self-acquired property.

Property passing from one generation to the next does not change its legal character; the source of acquisition determines if it is ancestral or self-acquired.