(1) Where a Hindu who has a wife living adopts a child, she shall be deemed to be the adoptive mother.
(2) Where an adoption has been made with the consent of more than one wife, the seniormost in marriage among them shall be deemed to be the adoptive mother and the others to be step-mothers.
(3) Where a widower or a bachelor adopts a child, any wife whom he subsequently marries shall be deemed to be the step-mother of the adopted child.
(4) Where a widow or an unmarried woman adopts a child, any husband whom she subsequently marries shall be deemed to be the step-father of the adopted child.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 14
Section 14 provides statutory rules for determining the legal status of an adoptive mother where a Hindu male with a wife, multiple wives, or as a bachelor/widower adopts a child under HAMA.
In succession and mutation disputes, apply Section 14 to trace the maternal line of inheritance. An adopted child inherits from the adoptive mother determined under Section 14, but does not inherit as a direct statutory heir from a step-mother.