Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c8.18

c8.18

It is of particular importance in this respect whether the possession extends over immovables or over movable property. According to Gaut. 12, 39 besides the female slaves, animals and real estates too are not liable to prescription. This rule reminds us of one of the texts about the law of inheritance which asserts the indivisibility of the immovables (§ 23). The immovables, originally the only valuable possession, should under no circumstances be lost to the family. Later authors however stances be lost to the family. Later authors however often speak of the prescription of immovable property, only according to Y. 2, 24 its possession should extend over twenty years, that is, double as long a period as in the case of movable properties. Later Smṛtis generally advocate longer periods for usucaption and prescription; thus Bṛh. 9, 7 speaks in general of 30 years Kāty. 8, 6¹ even of 60 years.