Supreme Court Ruling on Compensation for Homemakers
The Supreme Court issued a ruling on June 11, 2026, emphasizing the significance of recognizing homemakers as "nation builders" and addressing the monetization of unpaid domestic work.
Case Background
- The ruling arose from a motor accident claim in Punjab concerning the death of a woman named Reshma in November 2001.
- Her family sought compensation, which was initially granted by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and later enhanced by the High Court to ₹8.43 lakh with 7.5% interest.
Rationale Behind the Ruling
- The Court acknowledged homemakers' contributions to the growth of individuals and the nation.
- Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N.K. Singh highlighted the role of homemakers in nation-building.
- The Court recognized the need to shift terminology from 'housewife' to 'homemaker' to reflect the extensive unpaid labor involved.
Compensation Guidelines
- The Court mandated a minimum compensation of ₹30,000 per month for 'domestic care' in cases involving a homemaker's death.
- This amount is to increase by 10% every three years.
- If the homemaker had paid employment, this compensation is in addition to her income.
Gender Considerations
- The Court limited the application of this compensation to women, acknowledging the traditional image of a homemaker as a woman.
- It recognized the efforts of men in homemaker roles but maintained a focus on women for this ruling.
Supporting Data
- The ruling referenced the 2019 Time Use Survey, which highlighted the disproportionate amount of unpaid domestic work performed by women.
- Women aged 15-59 spend over seven hours daily on such tasks, compared to less than three hours by men.
- Women contribute 2.6 times more to unpaid caregiving and domestic work, impacting female labor force participation, which stands at 31.7%.
- Women's unpaid work is estimated to contribute 15-17% to India's GDP but remains unrecognized and unpaid.
