Q.Who is the 'Karta' in a Hindu Undivided Family business, and how does his liability differ from that of the other coparceners?

The Karta occupies a uniquely powerful — and uniquely risky — position in an HUF business compared to every other member.

The Karta is the senior-most member of the Hindu Undivided Family who manages its business. His authority to run the business, borrow funds on its behalf, and represent the family before outsiders does not come from any agreement made with the other coparceners — it flows directly from his position as head of the family under Hindu law.

His liability, however, is notably heavier than that of the ordinary coparceners: the Karta is personally liable for the debts of the business to the full extent of his own private property, exactly like an unlimited-liability sole proprietor. The other coparceners, by contrast, are liable for the firm's debts only to the extent of their own share in the joint family property — they cannot be made to pay out of any personal assets beyond that share. This asymmetry is a direct trade-off for the greater managerial control the Karta alone holds.

Assuming every coparcener, including the Karta, has the same limited liability — the Karta's own liability is specifically unlimited, which is exactly what balances the extra control he alone exercises.