Services by women keep societies going, says SC
Apex court said the services of a mother or wife were invaluable
New Delhi: In a decision on Wednesday, the Supreme Court held that the services of a mother or wife were invaluable.
Writing the judgement, Justice Banumathi, citing an earlier decision, said, “One has to admit that in the long run, the services rendered by women in the household sustain a supply of labour to the economy and keep human societies going by weaving the social fabric and keeping it in good repair.”
In the case that the bench was dealing with, Jayvantiben Jitendra Trivedi was a homemaker, engaged in tailoring work at home and earning about Rs 3,000 a month. She died in a motor accident on September 21, 1990 and the motor accident claims tribunal awarded a compensation of Rs 2,24,000 to the victim’s husband and daughter as against the claim of Rs 2,96,480.
On appeal by the respondent Kasam Daud Kumbhar and others, the Gujarat High Court reduced the compensation to Rs 2,09,400. The victim’s husband and daughter moved the Supreme Court.
Allowing the appeal in part, the bench said, “Even though the claimants have not preferred any appeal, we deem it appropriate to award enhanced compensation of Rs 6,47,000 to the claimants.
The court said the quantum of compensation claimed is Rs 2,96,480 i.e. payable with interest at the rate of 9 per cent from the date of the filing of the claim till the date of payment.
The enhanced compensation of Rs 3,50,520, along with accrued interest, shall be equally divided between the husband Jitendra Khimshankar Trivedi and his daughter Preeti Jitendra Trivedi in equal share.