In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh ...... Criminal Misc. No.M-19391 of 2010 ..... Date of decision:9.7.2010 Ravneet Kaur and another .....Petitioners v. State of Punjab and others .....Respondents .... Present: Mr. S.K. Bawa, Advocate for the petitioners. ..... S.S. Saron, J. The petitioners are a newly married couple. The present petition has been filed for directing Senior Superintendent of Police, Barnala (respondent No.2) to protect their life and liberty and that of their family members from respondents No.4 to 6, who are the parents and brother respectively of petitioner No.1. A further direction has been sought to the SHO, Police Station Sadar, Barnala (respondent No.3) not to harass the petitioners and their family members. The petitioner No.1 is the daughter of Shri Kamaljit Singh (respondent No.4) Her date of birth as per her Matriculation certificate (Annexure-P.1) issued by the Punjab School Education Board is 17.9.1987 and that of petitioner No.2 as per his Matriculation certificate (Annexure- P.2) issued by the aforesaid Board is 17.4.1981. The petitioners came to know each other about three years back and they had a liking for each other. They wanted to solemnize their marriage amongst themselves, however, the parents (respondents No.4 and 5) and close relatives including Surjit Singh Cr. Misc. No.M-19391 of 2010 [2] (respondent No.6) did not agree as the petitioners belong to different castes. Respondents No.4 to 6 in fact had planned to get petitioner No.1 married to some other boy as they were reluctant to marry her with petitioner No.2. The petitioners finding no alternative have solemnized their marriage amongst themselves on 7.7.2010 as per Hindu rites. The marriage was solemnized at Maharishi Balmiki Mandir, Sector 24, Chandigarh by the Swayamvar Sanskar Foundation, Chandigarh. The photographs (Annexures-P.3 to P.10) and the marriage certificate (Annexure-P.11) issued by the Swayamvar Sanskar Foundation have been placed on recorded. After marriage the petitioners informed the parents (respondents No.4 and 5) of petitioner No.1 about their marriage. On coming to know the said fact they rushed to the house of petitioner No.2 and created a scene at the spot. They further threatened that in case the petitioners are found they will be eliminated as their girl had married against their wishes. The relatives of petitioner No.1 and parents (respondents No.4 and 5) of petitioner No.1 have approached the Police for lodging a false criminal case against petitioner No.2. At about 10.00 a.m. on 7.7.2010, some Police officials on behalf of the Station House Officer, Police Station Sadar, Barnala visited the house of petitioners at Barnala in order to apprehend the petitioners, however, they had escaped as they did not want to go to the relatives after marriage. It is submitted that the officials of SHO, Police Station Sadar Barnala (respondent No.3) are harassing the family members of petitioner No.2. The petitioners have also submitted representation dated 7.7.2010 (Annexure-P.12) to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Barnala (respondent No.2) with copy to SHO, Police Station Sadar, Barnala Cr. Misc. No.M-19391 of 2010 [3] (respondent No.3) seeking protection of their life and liberty and for protecting them from false implication. Despite the said representation, the threat to them persists. Both the petitioners are present in Court and are identified by their counsel. It is stated by petitioner No.1 that she has solemnized her marriage with petitioner No.2 of her own free will and desire and without any kind of pressure or undue influence. Besides, she is happy with her marriage. In the afore-noticed facts and circumstances, the present criminal miscellaneous petition is disposed of with a direction to respondents No.2 and 3 that in case the petitioners approach any of them setting out their grievances as have been made in the present petition the same shall be duly considered and looked into by them independently and in accordance with law. July 9, 2010. (S.S. Saron) Judge *hsp*