Value of housewife is equal to a salaried partner: Supreme Court

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has recognized the immeasurable contribution of housewives, stating that their work is equivalent to that of individuals earning salaries through office jobs. 

A bench of Judges Suryan Kant and KV Vishwanathan highlighted the unique importance of women caring for their families and emphasized the difficulty in measuring their contribution solely in monetary terms. 

What was the case about?

The ruling stems from a 2006 motor accident case where a woman from Uttarakhand lost her life in a road accident. The vehicle in which she was travelling was uninsured, placing the responsibility of compensation on the vehicle owner. 

The court urged tribunals and courts to calculate the notional income of housewives based on their dedicated work and sacrifices, particularly in motor accident claim cases.

Initially awarded Rs 2.5 lakh in compensation, the family appealed for higher compensation, but the Uttarakhand High Court, in 2017, based its decision on the woman’s status as a housewife. The High Court considered her life expectancy and minimum notional income, deeming it lower than that of a daily wage labourer.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the High Court’s approach, the Supreme Court bench questioned the comparison of a housewife’s income to that of a daily wage labourer and rejected such a perspective. 

Emphasizing the significant time and effort housewives invest in their work, the bench ordered compensation of Rs 6 lakh to be paid to the family within six weeks. 

This ruling signifies a step towards recognizing and valuing the essential role played by housewives, ensuring their contributions are duly acknowledged and compensated.