Supreme Court
NEW DELHI: In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court on Thursday recognised homemakers as ‘nation builders’ and ruled that the loss of domestic care services provided by them should be treated as a separate head of compensation in motor accident claims.A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh held that the contribution of homemakers carries substantial economic and social value and must be independently recognised while calculating compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act.The court fixed a notional monthly income of Rs 30,000 for assessing the loss of domestic care services provided by a homemaker.Delivering the judgment in an appeal arising from a motor accident claim, the bench said the role of a homemaker extends beyond managing household responsibilities and contributes significantly to the growth of families and society.”Housewives contribute to the household. They are nation builders. They build the nation. How do you assess that contribution and monetise it? The word ‘homemaker’ would now acquire the acronym of ‘nation builder’,” the top court observed.The Supreme Court said the loss of domestic care suffered by a family due to the death or incapacitation of a homemaker deserves independent recognition while determining compensation, according to Live Law. “We are also of the view that the housewife contributes to the growth of the human being and the nation. The homemaker builds nation. So we have laid down the principles, and as a nation builder, we have quantified the amount that the loss of domestic care monthly income minimum in any event would be Rs 30,000 per month,” Justice Karol said while pronouncing the verdict.The bench further clarified that ‘loss of domestic care’ would be an additional ground for compensation, apart from the heads of damages already recognised by the Supreme Court in the Pranay Sethi judgment.Highlighting the often-unrecognised value of unpaid household work, the court expressed hope that the contribution of homemakers would receive greater recognition.”We only hope and trust that the word Home Maker will now acquire the acronym of nation builder,” Justice Karol said.The Supreme Court also said it had issued directions on the matter and expressed hope that Chief Justices of all High Courts would monitor the implementation of the principles laid down in the judgment.The ruling builds on an earlier 2024 judgment in which the apex court observed that the notion that homemakers do not work is incorrect and held that their deemed income should not be less than the minimum wages prescribed for a daily wage worker.
