JOIN USSo what if they don’t go to office and may not bring home salary. They take care of families and their contribution is by no means lesser than those who earn an income.
In an important decision that could bring joy to the millions of homemakers and recognise their contribution to the families, the Allahabad High Court has said that the housewives too are ‘earning members of the house’.
The decision came on a petition filed by a private insurance company challenging the order of a lower court awarding financial compensation to a homemaker, who was killed in a road mishap in Maharajganj district last year.
The accident occurred due to alleged negligence of the vehicle driver in which the victim Saifa Khatoon was travelling. Her sons later filed for claim.
The lower court had awarded Rs 2.64 lakh compensation to Khatoon. It had said her per month income could be taken to be Rs 3,000 at the rate of Rs 100 daily. It had also awarded Rs 2,500 towards expenditure incurred on performing the last rites of the dead.
The insurance company went in for appeal against the lower court order. It pleaded before the high court that the victim was not an earning member of the house as she did not work outside. It also argued that all her four sons were working and thus independent.
A bench comprising justice Sunil Ambawani and justice A N Mittal in their judgement said the housewives also make contribution to the families. They work at home and take care of the family members. Their contribution is thus similar to those who earn money outside.