Supreme Court, in Pawan Kumar Pathak vs. Mohan Prasad has reiterated that an adopted son is no less than a natural son, when it comes to claiming the right to inherit the properties of his father. Division Bench comprising of Justices A.K. Sikri and R.K. Agrawal made this observation in an appeal arising out of a suit filed by an adopted son claiming his right to inherit properties which belonged to his father, who died intestate. Another relative contested the suit claiming that the appellant is not the son and hence the latter filed an application to bring on record adoption deed registered around forty years ago. The Trial court dismissed the application holding it as an inadmissible evidence and the High Court also refused to interfere with that order. Thereafter the adopted son approached the Apex Court. The Court referred to Section 3(57) of the General Clauses Act, 1897 which says that “‘son’ in the case of any one whose personal law permits adoption, shall include an adopted so...