Harpreet Kaur And Another v. State Of Punjab And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 28.06.2024 Harpreet Kaur and another ....Petitioners

Versus

State of Punjab and others ....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAMIT KUMAR

Present:

Mr. Simranjit Singh, Advocate and Mr. Aman Mittal, Advocate for the petitioners.

NAMIT KUMAR J. (Oral) 1.

Prayer in this criminal writ petition filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India is for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus for directing the official respondents No.2 and 3 to protect the life and liberty of the petitioners and to restrain the private respondents No.4 to 9 from harassing or interfering in the peaceful life of the petitioners.

2.

Upon advance notice, Mr. Karunesh Kaushal, AAG, Punjab appears on behalf of respondents No.1 to 3. Requisite copies of the petition have already been supplied to the respondents - State by the learned counsel for the petitioners.

3.

As per contents made in the petition along with the documents attached, it appears that the petitioners are stated to be in a "Live in Relationship".

4.

It has been contended that petitioner No.1 is in live-in relationship out of her own free wish and will and without there being any threat at the hands of petitioner No.2. It has been further submitted that the petitioners are having continuous threat at the hands of private respondents No.4 to 9 and in this regard they have already submitted representation dated 26.06.2024 (Annexure P-3) to respondent No.2. It has also been contended that despite there being a continuous threat to the life and liberty of the petitioners, at the hands of private respondents, the official respondents have failed to take any action in this regard. 5.

Learned counsel for the petitioners also relies upon the two decisions rendered by this Court in the case of "Shilpa and another Vs. State of Punjab and others" passed in CRWP-10101-2021 on 22.10.2021 and "Pardeep Singh and another Vs. State of Haryana" passed in CRWP No.4521 of 2021 (O&M) on 18.05.2021. The relevant paragraph No.6 from Pardeep Singh and another's case (supra) is reproduced as under for reference:

"6.

Let us examine the issue from another viewpoint. The Constitutional Courts grant protection to couples, who have married against the wishes of their respective parents. They seek protection of life and liberty from their parents and family members, who disapprove of the alliance. An identical situation exits where the couple has entered into a live-in-relationship. The only difference is that the relationship is not universally accepted. Would that make any difference? In my considered opinion, it would not. The couple fears for their safety from relatives in both situations and not from the society. They are thus,

entitled to the same relief. No citizen can be permitted to take law in his own hands in a country governed by Rule of Law."

6.

Keeping in view the proposition of law laid down in the aforementioned cases and without expressing any opinion upon the relationship being maintained by the petitioners, however, considering their age, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.2 - Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, to consider the representation dated 26.06.2024 (Annexure P-3) and assess the threat perception to the petitioners and after considering the same, pass necessary directions to the concerned SHO in this regard. 7.

Accordingly, the Criminal Writ Petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid manner.

8.

It is, however, clarified that this order shall not debar the State from proceedings against the petitioners, if involved in any other case.

(NAMIT KUMAR) JUDGE 28.06.2024 yakub Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether reportable:

Yes/No