Son, 'son' as understood in common parlance means a natural son born to a person after marri-age. It is the direct blood relationship which is the essence of the term in which 'son' is usually understood, emphasis being on legitimacy. In legal parlance, however, 'son' has a little wider connotation. It may include not only the natural son but also son's son, namely, the grandchild, and where the personal law permits adoption, it also includes an adopted son. Even illegitimate son may be treated as legitimate, as for example, the 'son' referred to in s. 16 of the Hindu Marriage Act, as originally enacted. Thus the term 'son' itself is a flexible term and may not be limited to the direct descendant. Its true meaning, like the term 'family' discussed above, will depend upon the context in which it is used. K.V., Muthu v. Angamuthu Ammal, AIR 1997 SC 628 (632): (1997) 2 SCC 53.
1. A person's male child 2. An immediate male descendant 3. An adopted male child or dependent, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn.
In the case of any one whose personal law permits adoption, shall include an adopted son. [General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3(57)]
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