One of the most vexed question under the Hindu Law, is, whether a property acquires the character of self-acquired property or ancestral property. This is important because, if the property assumes character of self-acquired, then it falls into the hands of his sons as not coparcenary property, but would devolve upon on them in their individual capacity. In other words, the father has unfettered rights to do so with such property and neither his sons or grand sons would not have any claim on such property. However, if the property is held to be assuming the character of ancestral property, then the son, grand son and great grand son would acquire right in such property from the birth itself. In simpler words, the father cannot have unfettered rights qua such ancestral property and requires the consent of all the three downward generations, if existed, at the time of disposing such property.
Read more: Self Acquired vs Ancestral Property - Supreme Court Answers