Loss of homemaker’s domestic care a distinct head of compensation, says Supreme Court

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The ruling was issued while granting additional compensation to a widower for the loss of his wife in a motor vehicle accident. File (Image used for representational purpose only) | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Observing that homemakers deserve to be recognised as “nation builders”, the Supreme Court on Thursday (June 11, 2026) ruled that the unpaid domestic work performed by homemakers must be monetised at a minimum of ₹30,000 per month while calculating compensation for their deaths in road mishaps.

The ruling came in an appeal arising from a motor accident claim in Punjab where a woman named Reshma died in a road accident in November 2001. Her husband and three children approached the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal seeking compensation. While the tribunal awarded compensation in 2003, they approached the High Court to enhance the amount. On appeal, the High Court enhanced the compensation to ₹8.43 lakh with 7.5% interest, providing for a higher rate of interest in case of delay in payment.

A Division Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N.K. Singh observed that the contribution of a homemaker extends beyond the household and plays a vital role in nation-building. “We are of the view that the housewife contributes to the growth of the human being and the nation,” said the Court

Justice Karol stated that “loss of domestic care” would be an additional ground, in addition to the heads of damages previously recognised by the Supreme Court.

The court also said motor accident compensation claims should ordinarily be decided within one year. “Such cases should be decided within a year usually,’ the Bench said.

The Court also noted the need to shift from the stereotypical terminology of daily usage from ‘housewife’ to ‘homemaker’.

As the Court recognised all the aspects of being a homemaker and the unpaid labour that a homemaker undertakes, it directed the Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal (MACT) to award a separate compensation of ₹30,000 per month under the head of