law: Hindu Succession Act, 1956
  2. Application of Act
  (1) This Act applies-
  (a) to any person, who is a Hindu by religion
  
  in any of its forms or developments including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a
  
  follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj;
  (b) to any person who is Buddhist, Jaina or
  
  Sikh by religion; and
  (c) to any other person who is not a Muslim,
  
  Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion unless it is proved that any such person
  
  would not have been governed by the Hindu law or by any custom or usage as part
  
  of that law in respect of any of the matters dealt with herein if this Act had
  
  not been passed.
  Explanation: The following persons
  
  are Hindus, Buddhists, Jainas or Sikhs by religion, as the case may be:-
  (a) any child, legitimate or illegitimate,
  
  both of whose parents are Hindus, Buddhists, Jainas or Sikhs by religion;
  (b) any child, legitimate or illegitimate, one
  
  of whose parents is a Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh by religion and who is
  
  brought up as a member of the tribe, community, group or family to which such
  
  parent belongs or belonged;
  (c) any person who is a convert or re-convert
  
  to the Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh religion.
  (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1),
  
  nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the members of any Scheduled Tribe
  
  within the meaning of clause (25) of article 366 of the Constitution unless the
  
  Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, otherwise directs.
  
  
  (3) The expression "Hindu" in any portion of this Act
  
  shall be construed as if it included a person who, though not a Hindu by
  
  religion, is, nevertheless, a person to whom this Act applies by virtue of the
  
  provisions contained in this section.