Manpreet Begum Alias Manpreet Kaur And ANR v. State Of Punjab And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH CRWP-3671-2021 Date of Decision: April 16, 2021 Manpreet Begum @ Manpreet Kaur and another

...Petitioners

VERSUS

State of Punjab and others

...Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ARCHANA PURI

Present:

Ms.Navjot, Advocate for Mr.Rohit Aggarwal, Advocate for the petitioners.

**** ARCHANA PURI, J.

The matter has been taken up through video conferencing in the light of COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the present petition, the petitioners have made prayer for seeking protection, as threat is extended to them, at the behest of private respondents No.4 to 6, as both the petitioners have solemnized marriage against their wishes.

It is claim of the petitioners that both of them are major and to so substantiate the factum of age, copies of Aadhaar cards of both the petitioners have been annexed with the petition. It is their claim that they have solemnized marriage on 08.04.2021 and this marriage is not acceptable to respondents No.4 to 6, who are brother and relatives of petitioner No.1. Petitioner No.1 has also executed an affidavit in which she has stated that she belonged to Sikh religion and now, she has abandoned this religion and VINEET GULATI 2021.04.16 21:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh has adopted Muslim religion and changed her name from Manpreet Kaur to

CRWP No.3671 of 2021 -2Manpreet Begum. Even, marriage certificate has been annexed with the petition as Annexure P-2. Both the petitioners are stated to be residing within the jurisdiction of this Court and now they apprehend danger to their lives and personal liberty at the instance of private respondents No.4 to 6. Even, they have sent representation dated 09.04.2021 to the Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, copy whereof is Annexure P-5, thereby making prayer for extending protection to their lives and liberty but no action has been initiated upon the same.

Notice of motion.

Ms.Monika Jalota, AAG, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of official respondents and gives assurance about initiation of action on the representation dated 09.04.2021, in accordance with law. In view of the submission so made and the assurance so given by the learned State Counsel, the present petition is hereby disposed of with the direction to official respondent No.3 to consider the grievance of the petitioners, in view of the representation dated 09.04.2021, copy whereof is Annexure P-5 and to initiate action upon the same, in accordance with law expeditiously, if so required.

However, these observations are circumscribed only for the purposes of disposal of the present petition, without prejudice to the rights of the parties, to be adjudicated in any civil or criminal proceedings, qua their age, factum of marriage and the validity thereof. (ARCHANA PURI) JUDGE April 16, 2021 Vgulati Whether speaking/reasoned Yes Whether reportable Yes/No VINEET GULATI 2021.04.16 21:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh