Rights by Birth: A daughter becomes a coparcener by birth. This right is not dependent on whether the father was alive in 2005 (as settled by the Supreme Court in Vineeta Sharma).
No Bar by Preliminary Decree: A preliminary decree only declares the existing shares at that time. It does not create an "irreversible situation." Until the property is physically handed over through a final decree, the court can "readjust" the shares to reflect the current law.
Avoiding Multiplicity: If courts refused to amend preliminary decrees, daughters would have to file new lawsuits, leading to more "multiplicity of litigation" and wasting years of the judiciary’s time.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court’s stance is heavily backed by two major Supreme Court rulings:

Ganduri Koteshwaramma v. Chakiri Yanadi: In this case, the Apex Court clearly stated that a preliminary decree is not a "final partition." If the 2005 Amendment gives daughters a larger share, the court must recognize it even after the preliminary decree.
Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (2020): This judgment cleared the air by stating that daughters have coparcenary rights from birth, regardless of when they were born or when their father died.

The High Court has now applied these "Law of the Land" principles to ensure that local trial courts in Andhra Pradesh do not dismiss daughters' claims based on old technicalities.

If you are a woman involved in a family property dispute that has been going on for 20 or 30 years, here is what you need to know:

It’s Not Too Late: Even if a judge said years ago that you don't get a share (or get a smaller share), if the "Final Decree" is not yet signed, you can file an application to ask for an "Equal Share" (the same as your brother).
Equal Means Equal: You are entitled to the same percentage as your brother in the ancestral (joint family) property.
Pending Cases: This ruling applies to all cases currently pending in Trial Courts, High Courts, or even the Supreme Court.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court's ruling is more than just a legal interpretation; it is a step toward social justice. By ensuring that daughters are not deprived of their rights due to the slow pace of the legal system, the court has upheld the Constitutional mandate of equality.

As professional legal news portals like Live Law and Bar & Bench have often highlighted, the road to property equality for women has been paved with many obstacles. This ruling clears one of the biggest roadblocks, the "finality" of preliminary decrees ensuring that the law remains a living, breathing instrument of fairness.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific cases, please consult with a qualified legal professional.