The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday granted protection to a 21-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man after observing that the couple was entitled to live together in a live-in relationship since they had turned major.
A single-judge bench of Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi passed this order while hearing a Criminal Writ Petition filed by Pushpa Devi and Another. The petitioners have filed the Petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of directions to respondents to protect their life and liberty from danger at the hands of respondents.
The Petitioners have pleaded that the petitioners, aged about 21 and 19 years respectively, fell in love and are living together. Petitioner 2 (man) has not yet attained the age of marriage and the petitioners will solemnize marriage as and when he attains it. The respondents want to get the marriage of Petitioner 1 forcibly solemnized with some other man against her choice and also threaten that both the petitioners would be killed for the sake of family prestige.
The petitioners made representation dated July 2, 2021 to respondents for protection of their life and liberty but no action has been taken on the same.
Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners, who are in a live-in-relationship, made representation dated July 02, 2021 to the Senior Superintendent of Police, District Mohali seeking necessary protection but no action has been taken so far in the matter. Therefore, the appropriate direction may be given for the protection of the life and liberty of the Petitioners.
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In the case, the petitioners being major are entitled to live together in a live-in relationship and are also entitled to the protection of their life and liberty against any harm from respondents, the Court said.
“In view of the above discussion, the petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.2-Senior Superintendent of Police, District Mohali to look into the grievances of the Petitioners as set out in the Petition and also expressed in the representation dated July 02, 2021, and take appropriate action for the protection of their life and liberty as may be warranted by the circumstances”, the Court ordered.
The Court directed to send a copy of the order along with a copy of the petition and above-said representation to respondent No.2- Senior Superintendent of Police, District Mohali for requisite compliance.