What Does Karta Mean in HUF & Who Can Become One?

HUF or Hindu Undivided Family is an established system where members from one single ancestor create an asset entity as a whole. HUF is taxed separately and it is a great instrument for saving taxes. Hence, HUF must be created adhering to different rules and regulations, and having a Karta is one of the major rules.

This article will provide insight into the concept of Karta in HUF and other related information.

A Karta in HUF is generally the most senior male member of a HUF. However, nowadays, the most senior female member can also be a Karta. The power and position of a Karta are very important as he or she is responsible for making major decisions regarding the government of HUF.

He or she is also liable to manage the order of the family affairs. A Karta can give up his or her position by resigning or passing the post to another eligible member.

Coparceners of a HUF are only eligible for being a Karta. However, there are a few more eligibility criteria. These are as follows:

• Seniority: The prime eligibility criteria for being a Karta is seniority. Even if the senior member is ailing, extremely aged, or infirm, he or she can continue with the position.
• Permission from a Karta: A junior coparcener can become a Karta if he or she gets the right of the present one in position. Additional consent from other members of the HUF is also required.
• Minor as a Karta: As per regulations, in case the father has demised the elder minor son can become a Karta of HUF.
• Female as a Karta: Female coparceners by birth and marriage are considered members of HUF. Therefore, any female member as per the above-mentioned criteria can become a Karta of HUF.

Yes, a woman can become a Karta in HUF only if she is an acting coparcener and also the eldest member of the family. In addition to this, women who have joined the family as an adopted child and if it is the eldest henceforth, can also act as a coparcener and thereafter, as a Karta in HUF.

The Karta in HUF has the following rights or powers:

• Power of Management: A Karta is the sole manager of the property under a HUF. So, he or she gets the right to manage every property-related matter, authority transfer, disposal, acquisition, and investment process.
• Representing Power: In every sphere, be it social, legal, or religious, Karta will be the representative. Karta can take any transactional decision as a representative of his or her family.
• Power of Utilising HUF Income: Every member of a family is obliged to hand over their income to Karta and Karta has complete right to utilise that fund as per several expenditures.
• Power of Decision Making: A Karta can make decisions on every matter of HUF. Though there is relevance to the opinions of coparceners, Karta’s decision is supreme.
• Power of Compromising: The Karta of a HUF has the right to compromise several familial disputes and management issues, debt, transactions, etc. However, other members are allowed to go to the court to challenge the decision.
• Power of Initiating Contracts: Karta can start any contract and the whole family has to adhere. The contract applies to every family member of a joint family.
• Power to request arbitration for a dispute: Karta has the authority to refer cases involving family assets and administration to arbitration. If the arbitration's decision is upheld, the joint family's members must abide by it.
• Power to Alienate: As per HUF regulations, Karta can manage the assets of HUF and every member must abide by his or her decision. If any coparcener disagrees with this, he or she can only ask for partition. However, a Karta can ask for alienation which no other member can do.

Karta can alienate joint family assets and properties under the following circumstances:

• Legal necessities and emergencies
• The sole benefit of the family or estate
• Indispensible duties

There is no legal dispute regarding this alienation power. However, if he alienates property without providing these justifications, his judgment would be illegitimate, and he might face legal action.

With all these powers, a Karta also has some duties to perform. These are as follows:

• Fiduciary Duty: Fiduciary duty refers to Karta’s intention of providing the best for his or her family. He must think about collective betterment and make decisions accordingly.
• Accountability: Karta is accountable for everything happening in a HUF. He is responsible for other coparceners and should keep every family member updated on the latest developments and decisions of the HUF.
• Member Maintenance: As a Karta in HUF, one has to maintain the well-being of the other members including females, minors, and adults. Every family member can seek support from Karta.
• Ancestral Property Preservation: The Karta must maintain the integrity of ancestral property and make the best decisions regarding it. He does not have the right to waste ancestral properties or alienate others from them.
• Equality in HUF: To a Karta, every family member should be equal. Therefore, Karta must take care that every family member irrespective of their gender is getting the same facilities. Favouritism in a HUF is illegal.

So, hope you have got some necessary information regarding the power and position of a Karta in HUF from this article. A Karta holds a pivotal position in a HUF and everyone must know about his rights and duties to maintain a proper balance of the affairs of a HUF.