Sandeep Kaur (Minor) Through Lakhveer Singh And ANR v. State Of Punjab And Others

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH (114) Date of decision: - 15.09.2021 Sandeep Kaur (minor) through Lakhveer Singh and another ....Petitioners

Versus

State of Punjab and others .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI Present:- Mr. Malkiat Singh Hundal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Sandeep Singh Deol, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab. (keeping in view the advance copy given).

Mr. Anupam Bansal, Additional PP, for U.T., Chandigarh.

( Through Video Conferencing ) **** HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI , J. (ORAL) Present petition has been filed by the petitioners seeking protection on the ground that they apprehend danger to their life & liberty from respondents No.4 to 7.

Petitioner No.1 is admittedly a minor and even petitioner No.2 has not attained the marriageable age.

With the help of learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State of Punjab, petitioners who are present at Police Station Division-C,

-2Amritsar have interacted with this Court.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of petitioners submits that petitioner No.1 does not want to go back to her parents as she is apprehending threat to her life and liberty and she is agreeable in case she is sent to Children's Home-Snehalaya for Girls, Sector 15, Chandigarh till she attains the age of majority.

Learned standing counsel for U.T., Chandigarh has been requested to join the virtual proceedings and learned counsel submits that in case any order is passed by this Court directing the admission of petitioner No.1 at Children's Home-Snehalaya for Girls, Sector 15, Chandigarh, the same will be complied with and due care of petitioner No.1 will be taken therein.

Keeping in view the prayer of petitioner No.1, it is directed that petitioner No.1 be allowed to stay at Children's Home-Snehalaya for Girls, Sector 15, Chandigarh till she attains the age of majority and after petitioner No.1 attains the age of majority, she will be free to decide her future including the person with whom and place wherever she want to live.

In case petitioner No.1 before attaining the age of majority, expresses her desire to go with her parents, the said request be allowed by the concerned authorities, when she is lodged otherwise, as stated herein before after attaining the age of majority petitioner No.1, is free to decide wherever she wants to live.

The SHO of Police Station Division-C, Amritsar where petitioner No.1 is present at the moment, is directed that petitioner No.1

-3be escorted to the Children's Home-Snehalaya for Girls, Sector 15, Chandigarh by two officers, one of whom should be a female officer, today itself and the custody of petitioner No.1 be handed over to the authorities of the Children's Home-Snehalaya for Girls, Sector 15, Chandigarh.

As far as petitioner No.2 is concerned, it has been submitted that he made a representation qua the threat to his life and liberty, vide representation dated 10.09.2021 (Annexure P-3) with the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur (respondent No.3). Let the said representation be decided by respondent No.3 within a period of eight weeks from today by passing an appropriate speaking order and in case any action is required to be taken, the same be taken so that no harm is caused to the life and liberty of petitioner No.2 at the hands of the private respondents.

Present writ petition is disposed of in terms recorded herein before.

( HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI ) September 15, 2021 JUDGE naresh.k Whether reasoned/speaking?

Yes Whether reportable?

No