The Supreme Court on Thursday recognized loss of wife's domestic care as a separate head of compensation in claims under the Motor Vehicles Act (MV Act).

A Bench of Justice Sanjoy Karol and Justice NK Singh passed the ruling while granting additional compensation in a motor vehicle accident case to a widower for the loss of his wife.

“The loss of domestic care would be an additional ground in addition to what has been laid down in Pranay Sethi. We only hope and trust that the homemaker will now acquire the acronym of nation-builder,” the Court said.

The Court said the housewife contributes to the growth of the human being and the nation and quantified the amount for the loss of her domestic care at ₹30,000 per month.

"We are also of the view that the housewife contributes to the growth of the human being and the nation. And how do you assess that contribution in terms of monetising it? We have laid down the principles and, as a nation-builder, have quantified the amount that the loss of domestic care monthly income, in any event, would be ₹30,000 per month. We have also carved out a new principle following Pranay Sethi, and this is in addition to what has been laid down therein," the judgment said.

It also requested Chief Justices of all the High Courts to monitor the progress of MV Act cases. It stressed that the summary procedure provided under the law be followed in letter and spirit.

"We have issued certain directions and we hope and trust that the Hon'ble Chief Justices of all the High Courts would monitor all these cases and that what is laid down under Section 169 of the Act, namely that it be a summary procedure, would be followed in letter and spirit."

The Court passed the judgment on a plea challenging a judgment delivered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2024. It involved a road accident between two jeeps in which a woman was killed in 2001. The High Court had awarded a compensation of over ₹8 Lakh to the family of the victim including her husband three children.

Story to be updated.