Section - 2. Application of Act
(1) This Act applies-
(a) to any person, who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or developments, including a
Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana of Arya Samaj,
(b) to any person who is a Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh by religion and
(c) to any other person who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion, unless it is
proved that any such person would not have been governed by the Hindu law or by any custom or usage as part of the law in respect any of the matters dealt with herein if this Act had not been passed.
Explanation : The following persons are Hindus, Buddhists, Jainas or Sikhs by religion, as the
case may be:-
(a) any child, legitimate or illegitimate, both of whose parents are Hindus, Buddhists, Jainas or Sikhs by religion;
(b) any child, legitimate or illegitimate, one of whose parents is a Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina, and Sikh by religion and who is brought up as a member of the tribe, community, group or family to which such parent belongs or belonged; [2][**] [3][(bb) any child, legitimate or illegitimate who has been abandoned both by his father and mother or whose parentage is known and who in either case is brought up as a Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh; and]
(c) any person who is convert or reconvert to the Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh religion.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the members of any Scheduled Tribe within the meaning of clause (25) of article 366 of the Constitution unless the Central Government, by notification the Official Gazette, otherwise directs.
(3) The expression "Hindu" in any portion of this Act shall be construed as if it included a person who, though not a Hindu by religion, is, nevertheless, a person whom this Act applies by virtue of the provisions contained in this section.
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