Madras high court: A new India verdict recognises value of women's work - BBC News

The judgement in a domestic dispute case allowed a housewife equal share in her husband's property.

6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Experts say this is the first time an Indian court has formally recognised the contribution of a housewife to the husband's incomeBy Umang PoddarBBC NewsAn Indian court's recent verdict that significantly expands the rights of homemakers over their husband's property has been hailed as a positive sign by women's rights advocates.

On 21 June, the Madras high court - in the southern state of Tamil Nadu - passed a verdict in a domestic dispute case that allowed a housewife equal share in her husband's property.

Experts say this is the first time an Indian court has formally recognised the contribution of a housewife to the husband's income. They, however, point out that the verdict is not binding on other states unless the country's Supreme Court rules along similar lines in future.

It involved a couple from Tamil Nadu who'd married in 1965. After 1982, the husband moved to Saudi Arabia for a job. His wife, who stayed back in India and had no income of her own, bought several assets - real estate and jewellery - using the money the husband sent home.

On his return to India in 1994, the man alleged that his wife was trying to claim sole ownership over all their properties. He also claimed she was hiding her gold jewellery and wanted to sell an asset by giving the power of attorney to a person with whom she was allegedly having an affair.