Contribution of housemaker in performing domestic duties can’t be counted in terms of money: Tribunal

While observing that the contribution of a woman in performing household duties and upbringing her children cannot be counted in terms of money, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Chandigarh (MACT) has awarded over Rs 21-lakh compensation to her husband and two minor children. Parmjeet had died in an accident in Himachal Pradesh five years ago.

Amarjeet, husband of the deceased and native of Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradseh, had filed the claim petition. He said on September 3, 2021, Parmjeet was collecting fodder from the kutcha portion of a road in Gagal village. Around 7.10 am, a truck hit her from behind, crushing her head under its wheels. The truck driver sped away towards Hamirpur side.

Parmjeet was taken to a hospital in Hamirpur where the doctors declared her dead. An FIR under Sections 279 and 304-A of IPC & 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act was registered at the Nadaun police station.

The claimants said Parmjeet was aged 33 at the time of her death. She was a housemaker and her monthly income can be taken as Rs 10,000 per month.

The driver and the insurance company denied the allegations, claiming that the claim petition was not maintainable.

After hearing of the arguments, the tribunal said the deceased was taking care of her minor children and performing all domestic duties. The contribution of a housemaker in performing household duties and upbringing her children cannot be counted in terms of money. However, keeping in view the law laid down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in various cases, the contribution of deceased Parmjeet as a housemaker is taken as Rs 11,000 per month.

The tribunal said the claimants were entitled to get Rs 21,96,000 as compensation, in equal shares, i.e. Rs 7,32,000 each, along with interest. The driver, owner and insurance company are jointly and separately held liable to pay the compensation amount along with interest at the rate 9% per annum from the date of payment till its realisation.