Ranjit Kaur And ANR v. State Of Haryana And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH CRWP-3692-2021 Date of Decision: April 16, 2021 Ranjit Kaur and another

...Petitioners

VERSUS

State of Haryana and others

...Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ARCHANA PURI

Present:

Ms.Manjeet Kaur, 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 a prayer for seeking protection, as threat is extended to them, at the behest of private respondents No.4 to 6, as both the petitioners are in live-in relationship. It is averred in the petition that that the petitioner No.1 had married respondent No.4 in the month of January 2020 and since February 2020, her husband had gone abroad and respondent No.4 is not in any relationship with petitioner No.1 since then. It is further stated that both the petitioners are in live-in relationship since February 2020. Both the petitioners are stated to be major and to so substantiate the factum of age, copies of Aadhar Card have been annexed with the petition. Private respondents No.4 to 6 are against the live-in relationship of both the

CRWP No.3692 of 2021 -2petitioners and on this account, they are apprehending danger to their lives and personal liberty. Further to so substantiate their claim, even affidavits of both the petitioners have been annexed with the petition. Notice of motion.

Ms. Harpreet Kaur, Assistant Advocate General, Haryana accepts notice on behalf of the official respondents and submits that petitioner No.1 is married woman and without seeking divorce, she is residing with petitioner No.2 and, therefore, no protection can be given to petitioners.

However, it is pertinent to mention that the present petition does not dilate upon the relationship of petitioner No.1 with respondents No.5 and 6, who are allegedly parents-in-law of petitioner No.1 and also of her relationship with petitioner No.2. At this stage, the Court is only concerned about the life and personal liberty of the petitioners, as they apprehend danger to their lives.

In view of the assertions so made, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent Nos.2 and 3 to look into the matter and also to consider the representation dated 12.04.2021, copy whereof, has been placed on record as Annexure P-3, and if they find that there is genuine apprehension of danger to the lives and personal liberty of the petitioners, then they are directed to take appropriate steps to ensure their protection, in the fitness of the circumstances. However, these observations of mine are circumscribed, only for the purposes of disposal of the present writ petition and shall not be construed as any expression qua the relationship of petitioner No.1 with respondents No.4 and 5 or of the nature of relationship between the

CRWP No.3692 of 2021 -3petitioners inter se and the questions relating to the same shall remain open to be adjudicated in any civil or criminal proceedings. Accordingly, the criminal writ petition stands disposed of. (ARCHANA PURI) JUDGE April 16, 2021 Vgulati Whether speaking/reasoned Yes Whether reportable Yes/No