Maango And ANR v. State Of Punjab And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH -.- CRWP-773-2022 (O&M) Date of Decision: 28.01.2022 Maango and Another ....Petitioners

VERSUS

State of Punjab and Others ....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ALKA SARIN Present :

Mr. Vipan Kumar Sharma, Advocate for the petitioners. ALKA SARIN, J. (Oral) Taken up through video conferencing.

This is a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking protection of life and liberty of the petitioners at the hands of respondent Nos.4 to 15.

Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that this is the first marriage of both the petitioners and the petitioners are major and have got married against the wishes of their parents and relatives. In support of their age proof, the petitioners have appended the photocopies of their Aadhaar Cards as Annexures P-1 and P-3, respectively. They are stated to be receiving serious threats and apprehend grave danger to their life and liberty. The petitioners have also sent a representation dated 22.01.2022 (Annexure P-5) to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Hoshiarpur - respondent No.2 - for providing adequate security. However, no action has been taken till date. The counsel for the petitioners would further contend that he limits his prayer in the present petition and would be satisfied at this stage if directions are issued for deciding the said representation in accordance with law.

TRIPTI SAINI 2022.01.29 09:04 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CRWP-773-2022 (O&M) -2Notice of motion.

On the asking of the Court, Mr. H.S. Multani, AAG Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondent Nos.1 to 3-State. Since the matter is not being decided on merits, the service on the other respondents is dispensed with.

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Without expressing any opinion with regard to the veracity of the contents of the petition and the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioners, the present petition is disposed off with a direction to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Hoshiarpur - respondent No.2 - to decide the representation dated 22.01.2022 (Annexure P-5) and take necessary action as per law.

It is, however, made clear that this order shall not, in any manner, be construed as an expression of opinion on the veracity of the statement made by the petitioners or on the validity of the marriage and shall have no effect on any other civil or criminal proceedings, if any, instituted/pending against them.

Disposed off.

January 28, 2022 ( ALKA SARIN ) tripti JUDGE NOTE : Whether speaking/non-speaking: Speaking Whether reportable: YES/NO TRIPTI SAINI 2022.01.29 09:04 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document