“Equality cannot wait”: Kinnaur’s veteran activist seeks end to gender bias in Tribal property laws
Shimla, Oct 25,
Prominent tribal activist Ratna Manjari, a veteran women’s rights advocate from Kinnaur, has urged the Central Government to introduce legal reforms ensuring equal ancestral property rights for women belonging to Scheduled Tribes (STs). Her appeal follows the Supreme Court’s recent clarification that the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, does not automatically extend to Scheduled Tribes unless specifically notified by the Centre.
Calling the judgment a “wake-up call” for policymakers, Manjari said the verdict has exposed a long-standing legal vacuum that continues to deny tribal women equality in inheritance. “This ruling only reaffirms what we have been saying for decades — tribal women are left out of the ambit of equality. It’s time for both the Central and State Governments to correct this injustice,” she said while speaking to HimachalScape.
A pioneering figure in grassroots governance, the 70-year-old activist from Ribba village in Kinnaur is the first woman Panchayat head from the district and has served five terms in local governance apart from being a three-time Zilla Parishad member. Through her organisation, Mahila Kalyan Parishad, she has been advocating for women’s property rights in tribal belts for over three decades.
Her organisation had earlier filed a public interest petition in the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2019, seeking recognition of women’s rights to ancestral property under tribal customary law. The case remains pending. “We have fought this battle through every available platform — from the courts to representations sent to the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister, and even the President. But the time for waiting is over; the government must act,” she asserted.
Manjari pointed out that while tribal customs once reflected traditional lifestyles, social structures in tribal regions like Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti have changed considerably. “Today’s tribal youth are educated and aware. When women across Himachal enjoy property rights under the Hindu Succession Act, why should tribal women be excluded?” she questioned.
Under customary inheritance laws in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, property passes strictly to male heirs. Daughters may inherit only in the absence of a son — and even then, they cannot sell, gift, or transfer the property. Once married, ownership reverts to the paternal family. These norms, activists say, perpetuate economic dependency and social inequality for tribal women.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, reaffirming that traditional customs prevail in tribal areas unless altered by legislation, has reignited debate over whether constitutional guarantees of equality are being effectively upheld in Scheduled Tribe regions.
Ratna Manjari believes that a balanced reform — preserving cultural identity while ensuring gender justice — is both possible and necessary. “Our traditions can evolve without losing their essence. Equality cannot wait for another generation,” she said, vowing to continue her campaign for tribal women’s right to inherit ancestral property.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.