The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA) was established in the year 1956 as part of the Hindu Code Bills. This act extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir and applies to Hindus domiciled in our country. Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act was introduced to codify and standardize the current Hindu legal tradition. This act dealt specifically with the legal process of adopting children by a Hindu adult, and with the legal obligations of a Hindu to provide maintenance to various family members. In this article, we look at the various aspects of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956 in detail.
The laws relating to adoption and maintenance generally depend on the personal laws of different religions. In India, the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 governs such law for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists. It basically contains provisions relating to the adoption of children; maintenance of wives, children or aged parents, etc.