Supreme Court: Homemakers Should Be Called 'Nation Builders'

The Supreme Court on Thursday stated that the term 'nation builder' should be used instead of 'homemaker' to acknowledge the contributions of women in families. A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh made this observation while ordering additional compensation to a husband following his wife's death in a road accident.

The court highlighted that a homemaker's responsibilities go beyond cooking, childcare, and household management. It noted that homemakers strengthen the foundation of families, prepare future generations, and indirectly contribute significantly to societal development. The court estimated the value of a homemaker's work at approximately ₹30,000 per month and stressed that their contributions should not be undervalued when determining compensation.

In the context of motor vehicle accident claims, the court ruled that families should not receive reduced compensation solely because the deceased homemaker did not have a formal income. It recognized the loss of domestic care as a separate factor for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The bench also issued guidelines for assessing compensation, considering factors such as age, education, skills, family responsibilities, and economic status.

The judgment was delivered in a case challenging a 2024 Punjab and Haryana High Court decision related to a 2001 road accident involving two jeeps, which resulted in the death of a woman. The High Court had awarded over ₹8 lakh in compensation to the victim's family, including her husband and three children.

Key Points
- Supreme Court advocates using 'nation builder' instead of 'homemaker' for women.
- Homemakers' contributions valued at ₹30,000 per month.
- Compensation in accident cases must account for domestic care loss.
- Guidelines issued for fair assessment of homemakers' contributions.
- Case involved a 2001 road accident and a 2024 High Court decision.