law: Hindu Succession Act, 1956
  12. Order of succession among agnates and cognates
  The order of succession among agnates or cognates, as the case
  
  may be, shall be determined in accordance with the rules of preference laid
  
  down hereunder:
  Rule 1 - Of two heirs, the one who has fewer or no degrees of
  
  ascent is preferred.
  Rule 2 - Where the number of degrees of ascent is the same or
  
  none, that heir is preferred who has fewer or no degrees of descent.
  Rule 3 - Where neither heirs is entitled to be preferred to the
  
  other under Rule 1 or Rule 2 they take simultaneously.