THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, June 11: In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has recognised homemakers as “nation builders” and fixed a minimum value of ₹30,000 per month for domestic care services while determining compensation in motor accident claims.
The ruling came from a Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N.K. Singh, which held that the loss suffered by a family due to the death or incapacitation of a homemaker deserves independent recognition under the Motor Vehicles Act.
‘The Homemaker Builds the Nation’
Observing that the contribution of a homemaker extends beyond household responsibilities, the Court underscored the social and economic value of unpaid domestic work.
“We are also of the view that the housewife contributes to the growth of the human being and the nation. The homemaker builds the nation. As a nation builder, we have quantified the amount that the loss of domestic care monthly income minimum in any event would be ₹30,000 per month,” Justice Karol said while pronouncing the judgment.
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Separate Compensation for Loss of Domestic Care
The Court ruled that ‘loss of domestic care’ should be treated as a separate head of compensation in motor accident cases, in addition to the categories of damages already recognised in the landmark National Insurance Co. Ltd. vs Pranay Sethi judgment.
“The loss of domestic care would be an additional ground in addition to what has been laid down in Pranay Sethi. We only hope and trust that the homemaker will now acquire the acronym of nation-builder,” the Bench observed.
Case Related to 2001 Road Accident
The judgment was delivered while hearing an appeal arising from a motor accident compensation case involving the death of a woman in a road accident in 2001.
The matter challenged a 2024 Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment that awarded more than ₹8 lakh in compensation to the deceased woman’s husband and three children.
Recognition of Unpaid Domestic Work
The Supreme Court reiterated its earlier observations that the notion that homemakers do not work is fundamentally flawed.
The Bench noted that unpaid domestic labour has significant economic value and that the contribution of homemakers must be adequately reflected while calculating compensation in accident claims.
Directions to Speed Up MACT Cases
The Court also issued directions to ensure faster disposal of motor accident compensation cases across the country.
Referring to Section 169 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which provides for a summary procedure before Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACTs), the Bench stressed that such cases should be handled expeditiously.
“We have issued certain directions and we hope and trust that the Hon’ble Chief Justices of all the High Courts would monitor all these cases and that what is laid down under Section 169 of the Act, namely that it be a summary procedure, would be followed in letter and spirit,” the Court said.
The apex court expressed hope that High Courts would actively monitor motor accident claim cases to ensure timely adjudication and effective implementation of the principles laid down in the judgment.