Where a Hindu male dies intestate leaving behind an ascendant agnate, a descendant agnate and a…

Hindu law prefers descendants first, then ascendants, then collaterals. Section 12 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 states the rule for agnates: "of two heirs, the one who has fewer or no degrees of ascent is preferred", and where the degrees of ascent are equal or none, the one with fewer or no degrees of descent is preferred. A descendant, having no degree of ascent, therefore comes first, and the general order places ascendants before collaterals.