In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh ...... Criminal Misc. No.M-15411 of 2010 ..... Date of decision:20.9.2010 Rachna Sharma and another .....Petitioners v. State of Haryana and others .....Respondents .... Present: Mr. P.S. Jammu, Advocate for the petitioners. ..... S.S. Saron, J. The petitioners had decided to marry each other. Petitioner No.1 informed her parents (respondents No.4 and 5) about her decision and she tried to persuade them to accept the marriage. However, they were unwilling to accede to her request as both the petitioners belong to different castes. They pressurized petitioner No.1 not to marry petitioner No.2 otherwise she would be eliminated. Petitioner No.1 then left her parental home on 18.5.2010 and joined petitioner No.2. They on their own have solemnized their marriage amongst themselves at Sri Aadi Shakti Ved Pathshala, Kalka Road, Shiv Mandir, Majri, Panchkula. The certificate of marriage dated 19.5.2010 (Annexure-P.4) issued by Purohit Yogesh Kumar of Sri Aadi Shakti Ved Pathshala and photographs (Annexure-P.3) have been placed on record. On account of the marriage, the petitioners apprehend danger to their life and liberty from the parents (respondents No.4 and 5) of petitioner No.1. The petitioners also submitted an application dated 19.5.2010 (Annexure-P.5) to the Superintendent of Police, Sirsa (respondent No.2) seeking protection of their life and liberty. Cr. Misc. No.M-15411 of 2010 [2] However, despite that the threat to them continues. Both the petitioners, it is stated, are major. The date of birth of petitioner No.1, it is stated, is 20.8.1991. As per affidavit (Annexure-P.1) she is 18½ years old. Certificate dated 21.6.2010 (Annexure-P.6) issued by the Civil Surgeon, Sirsa has also been placed on record in which she was examined by a Medical Board consisting of three doctors and as per the Medical Board her age, it is submitted, is between 18-19 years. The date of birth of petitioner No.2, it is stated, is 18.6.1983. A reference has been made to the ration card (Annexure-P.2) in which the age of petitioner No.2 as on 22.4.2009 is mentioned as more than 22 years. The averments made in the petition are supported by affidavit of petitioner No.2. 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. It is submitted by both the petitioners that they were not earlier married. 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. September 20, 2010. (S.S. Saron) Judge *hsp*