Crl. Misc. No.58680 of 2009 and - 1 - CRM-M-32458 of 2009 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH **** Crl. Misc. No.58680 of 2009 and CRM-M-32458 of 2009 DATE OF DECISION: 18.11.2009 **** Ritu and another . . . . Petitioners VS. State of Haryana and others . . . . Respondents **** CORAM : HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE RAKESH KUMAR JAIN **** Present: Mr.Satish Chaudhary, Advocate for the petitioners. **** RAKESH KUMAR JAIN J. (ORAL) Crl. Misc. No.58680 of 2009 Allowed as prayed for. CRM-M-32458 of 2009 As per the averments made in the petition, petitioner No.1 is 22 years of age having been born on 25.7.1987 as per her Matriculation Certificate (Annexure P-1) and petitioner No.2 is 25 years of age having been born on 19.4.1984 as per his School Leaving Certificate (Annexure P-2). Both the petitioners are major. They have stated that they have performed marriage as per Hindu Rites and ceremonies on 11.11.2009. Photographs of their marriage are appended as Annexure P-4 and marriage certificate is annexed as Annexure P-3. Crl. Misc. No.58680 of 2009 and - 2 - CRM-M-32458 of 2009 Before coming to this Court, the petitioners have also approached Senior Superintendent of Police, Ambala (respondent No.2) for providing them Security. Though both the petitioners are major, yet they are apprehending danger to their lives at the hands of respondent Nos.5 and 6 as they have married against their wishes. Learned Counsel for the petitioners relies upon a decision of the Supreme Court in “Lata Singh Vs. State of U.P. and another” 2006(5) SCC 475, in which it is held that “Once a person becomes a major he or she can marry whosoever he/she likes. If the parents of the boy or girl do not approve of such inter-caste or inter- religious marriage the maximum they can do is that they can cut-off social relations with the son or the daughter, but they cannot give threats or commit or instigate acts of violence and cannot harass the person who undergoes such inter-caste or inter-religious marriage. We, therefore, direct that the administration/police authorities throughout the country will see to it that if any boy or girl who is a major undergoes inter-caste-or inter-religious marriage with a woman or man who is a major, the couple is not harassed by anyone nor subjected to threats or acts of violence, and anyone who gives such threats or harasses or commits acts of violence either himself or at his instigation, is taken to task by instituting criminal proceedings by the police against such persons and further stern action is taken against such persons as provided by law.” After hearing counsel for the petitioners and keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case particularly the fact that both the petitioners are major, respondent No.2 is directed to look into Crl. Misc. No.58680 of 2009 and - 3 - CRM-M-32458 of 2009 the representation (Annexure P-5) and if the facts stated in the application are found to be correct and any danger to the lives and liberty of the petitioners is found, he shall provide necessary protection to them. The petition stands disposed of. (RAKESH KUMAR JAIN) NOVEMBER 18, 2009 JUDGE Vivek