(1) This Act applies-
(a) to any person, who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or developments including a
Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj;
(b) to any person who is Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh by religion; and
(c) to any other person who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion unless it is proved
that any such person would not have been governed by the Hindu law or by any custom or usage as
part of that law in respect of any of the matters dealt with herein if this Act had not been passed