Court suggests men become homemakers too

On a matrimonial proceeding, Madras High Court indicated that incorporating house-husbands into practice could help safeguard marriage and family. The observation was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justices G.R. Swaminathan and M.D. Sumathi during the hearing as part of the proceedings.

The Bench noted that only women are generally expected to be homemakers, but the term is gender neutral. They added that the Supreme Court has recognized the economic value of the work carried out by homemakers.

The Court stated, “House-husbands should become part of the new normal to preserve the institution of marriage and family, observed the Madras High Court recently while dealing with a matrimonial case..A Division Bench of Justices GR Swaminathan and MD Sumathi questioned why only women are generally expected to be homemakers, noting that it is a gender neutral term. The Bench added that even the Supreme Court has recognised that the work carried out by homemakers have enourmous economic value. “If there can be house wives, there can be house husbands also. Let this become a new normal. We are of the view that this would help preserve the institution of marriage and family. The expression home maker is gender neutral,”

Shifting Family Roles

The Court noted that, unlike in Western societies, in Indian culture, marriage was historically rooted in family as the core social unit, where the husband was the financial provider and the wife managed domestic duties. “Both the roles are entitled to equal respect,” the Court said.

The Court observed that the position has been changing over the last half a century, with women increasingly becoming career-oriented. The shifting trends have seen career-driven women increasingly skip marriage because they view it as an impediment, it went on to observe.

The Court suggested that if men do not shy away from becoming homemakers, the situation could be remedied. This situation could be remedied if men do not shy away from becoming homemakers too, the Court said. “Women are also increasingly becoming career oriented. We note that this is taking a toll in many relationships. Particularly, in IT sector and other professions. Marriage is not proving to be a win-win proposition for career women. Since such women see marriage as an impediment to their career prospects, they choose to skip it altogether. The number of unmarried women is on the rise. The situation can probably be remedied if husbands would opt to be homemakers,” it observed.

Estranged Doctor Couple

The Court made these observations while hearing cross-appeals filed by an estranged doctor couple against a family court order in a matrimonial case. The family court had dismissed both the wife’s plea for restitution of conjugal rights and the husband’s petition for divorce on grounds of cruelty.

The Court found that the wife, a dentist, stayed back with her parents to care for the couple’s two children while her husband pursued advanced cardiology qualifications. Marital relations soured after the husband expressed that he wished to move out of the home the couple shared with his in-laws.

The husband was comfortable with a particular arrangement till he qualified himself fully and to his satisfaction. Once he blossomed into a successful professional, the male ego asserted itself in all its ‘glory.’ It also took note of the wife’s lament that she had made sacrifices in her education and career to take care of the family while her husband pursued higher qualifications.

Divorce Settlement Ordered

The Court proceeded to suggest that the husband make a fair offer to compensate his wife. The husband offered a ₹2.5 crore financial settlement, to which the wife agreed. Finding the marriage broken down irretrievably, the Court proceeded to grant a divorce, provided the man deposits ₹1.5 crore of the settlement to his wife’s bank account within three months.

The Court added that ₹50 lakh each is to be deposited in the names of their two minor children within one year thereafter.