Arnold White, C.J.

1. The first question which has been referred to us is whether the Married Womens Property Act, 1874 (Act III of 1874) applies to Hindu males.

2. I feel a difficulty in answering this question in the form in which it has been framed. A general answer might possibly cover a case not contemplated in the order of reference, and not argued before us. The argument before us was confined to the question whether, where a Hindu male effected a policy of insurance on his own. life, which expressed on the face of it that it was for the benefit of his wife, or his wife and children, or any of them, Section 6 of the Act applied. This is the question I propose to deal with.

3. Under Section 2 of the Act nothing in the Act applies to a married woman, who at the time of her marriage professed the Hindu religion or whose husband at the time of the marriage professed the Hindu religion.

4. I am of opinion that Sections 4, 5, 7 and 8 do not apply where either of the spouses professed the Hindu religion at the time of the marriage. These sections contain the words " married women" and therefore Section 2 applies to them in terms. They are intended to confer rights on a married