"Homemakers Are Nation Builders": Supreme Court Cites Housewives Contributions To Decide Motor Accident Claim
Court has said contribution of a homemaker extends beyond the household and plays a vital role in nation-building.
"We only hope that the word Home Maker will now acquire the acronym of nation builder," Court said today.
The Supreme Court today held that housewives should be considered as nation builders while computing the loss of domestic care provided by a homemaker as it constitutes a distinct and compensable head of damages in motor accident claims,
A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh has said while quantifying the value of such domestic services a minimum of Rs. 30,000 per month should be considered.
"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 housewife, 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 in court today.
Notably in 2024, Supreme Court had said the role of a homemaker is as important as that of a family member and the activities performed by her are invaluable, which cannot assessed in monetary terms. While saying so, the court had enhanced the compensation of Rs. 2,50,000 granted by the Motor Accidents Claims tribunal to Rs. 6,00,000.
"It goes without saying that the role of a homemaker is as important as that of a family member whose income is tangible as a source of livelihood for the family. The activities performed by a home-maker, if counted one by one, there will hardly be any doubt that the contribution of a home-maker is of a high order and invaluable. In fact, it is difficult to assess such a contribution in monetary terms," the court had then said.
The court had awarded a lump sum compensation of Rs 6 lakh, saying instead of calculating the compensation under different heads, it also kept in mind the fact that the appellants and the respondents are closely related, and the delinquent vehicle was not insured. The appellants in the case were husband and son and daughter of deceased Sushma Pandey who died on June 26, 2006 after the car in which she was travelling skidded off and fell in a ditch.
Case Title: SHISHUPAL @ SHISH RAM AND ORS. vs. SURJEET
Bench: Justices Karol and Singh
Judgement Date: June 11, 2026