Customary law and women’s property rights among the adi tribe of arunachal pradesh: a socio-legal analysis

Abstract

The Adi community of Arunachal Pradesh follows a patrilineal system of land and inheritance governed largely by customary law, which has historically excluded women from rights over ancestral property for the longest time. Adi women have made important contributions to agriculture and household economies and cultural traditions but they still face social exclusion from land ownership rights and inheritance rights. This research studies Adi tribal inheritance customs to show how they affect women's social status and legal status and economic standing. The study evaluates ongoing discrimination against women who seek ancestral land rights by examining secondary literature and empirical evidence from similar tribal societies and current constitutional and judicial developments. The analysis focuses on current legal conflicts which include the Supreme Court's interpretation of tribal women's inheritance rights and the Arunachal Pradesh Marriage and Inheritance of Property Bill 2021 legislative proposals. The paper demonstrates that constitutional protections with judicial actions establish paths to gender equality while traditional customs maintain barriers that prevent women from accessing property rights. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive legal reforms, increased legal awareness among tribal women, and dialogue between state institutions and indigenous communities to reconcile customary practices with constitutional ideals of gender justice.