Under the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, a de facto guardian is:

Under s. 11 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 no person may dispose of or deal with a Hindu minor's property "merely on the ground of his or her being the de facto guardian". A de facto guardian is not a natural guardian, so the s. 8 powers do not attach, and the old necessity-based power to alienate did not survive the Act.