An illegitimate minor child under section 20 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act is entitled to…

Section 20 binds a Hindu father and a Hindu mother to maintain legitimate or illegitimate children. Subsection (2) lets such a child claim maintenance from either parent while a minor. The combined choice identifies both liable parental categories; a grandfather is not substituted for them by this provision.

Current law: Uttarakhand’s UCC, operating within its defined scope from 27 January 2025, includes an illegitimate child within section 3(1)(a)’s child definition and empowers matrimonial courts under section 35 to make minor-child maintenance orders. This additional Code framework does not turn the section 20 obligation into a grandfather-only obligation.