New Delhi : The Supreme Court has held that homemakers are “nation builders” and that the loss of domestic-care services must be treated as a separate head of compensation in legal claims. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and N. Kotiswar Singh fixed a notional monthly income of ₹30,000 for assessing the loss of services rendered by homemakers.
The observations came while the court was laying down principles for calculating compensation in cases involving the accidental death of homemakers. The judgment also carried broader observations on gender roles within marriage. The court clarified that marriage should not be viewed as an arrangement where a woman assumes sole responsibility for household work.
The Court also directed that the loss of domestic care be recognised as an additional head of compensation, acknowledging the substantial yet often unremunerated contribution of homemakers. Further, the bench expressed hope that Chief Justices of all High Courts would monitor the implementation of the directions issued in this regard. The ruling is being viewed as an important step towards recognising the economic and social value of unpaid household work performed by homemakers across the country.
The bench also asked the chief justices of all the high courts to monitor the progress of MV Act cases.The apex court delivered the judgment on a plea challenging a judgment delivered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2024. The matter involved a road accident in which a woman was killed. The high court awarded compensation of over Rs 8 Lakh to the victim’s family, including her husband and the children.
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