The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday has directed the couple to deposit Rs. 10,000/- as a cost for not wearing the masks at the time of their marriage ceremony who had filed a plea before HC seeking protection from their family members.
The High Court also said that the amount so deposited by the petitioners shall be utilized for the purpose of arranging masks for the public at large within the District Hoshiarpur.
A Single Judge bench of Justice Hari Pal Verma had taken up the matter for hearing through video conferencing due to outbreak of COVID-19, whereby prayer sought in the criminal writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 482 Cr.P.C. was for the issuance of appropriate direction to the respondents Nos.1 to 5 including the State of Punjab, to protect the life and liberty of the petitioner’s couple at the hands of respondent Nos.6 to 8 (family members).
Learned counsel for the petitioners contended that the petitioners are major and have solemnized their marriage in accordance with law. However, the private respondents are not accepting their marriage and are adamant to separate them from each other by resorting to illegal means. Learned counsel further added that in view of imminent danger to the life and liberty of the petitioners, petitioner No.1 has moved a representation to respondent No.2- “Senior Superintendent of Police”, Gurdaspur.
Thereafter, Ms. Monika Jalota, DAG (Deputy Advocate General), Punjab, accepted notice on behalf of respondents No.1 to 5.
“Without going into the validity of the marriage of the petitioners, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent No.2 –Senior Superintendent of Police, Gurdaspur to take appropriate remedial measures on the representation submitted by petitioner No.1 as warranted by law. In the meantime, necessary order be passed to ensure that no harm is caused to the life and liberty of the petitioners at the hands of private respondents”, said the Court.
Read the order here;
Not-wearing-mask-in-a-marriage-ceremony-Punjab-and-Haryana-HC-imposes-10k-cost-on-the-couple.-India Legal Bureau