In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh ...... Criminal Misc. No.M-7658 of 2010 ..... Date of decision:15.3.2010 Anita Rani and another .....Petitioners v. State of Punjab and others .....Respondents .... Present: Mr. Peeush Gagneja, Advocate for the petitioners. ..... S.S. Saron, J. The petitioners are a newly married couple and pray for directing respondents No.2 to 4 to protect their life and liberty which is under threat from respondents No.5 to 8, who are father, mother, brother and brother-in-law (sister's husband) of petitioner No.1. The petitioners, it is stated, are major. The date of birth of petitioner No.1 as per her Matriculation certificate (Annexure-P.1) is 26.12.1989. Petitioner No.2 is aged about 30 years. A reference is made to the identity card (Annexure-P.2) issued by the Election Commission of India in which age of the petitioner No.2 as on 1.1.2006 is recorded as 26 years. The petitioners are known to each other and had a liking for each other. Petitioner No.1 informed her parents about her relationship with petitioner No.2 and her desire to marry him. However, they wanted her not to pursue the matter further as it would lead to alarming consequences and they would not allow the marriage. Respondents No.5 to 8 and other Cr. Misc. No.M-7658 of 2010 [2] relatives of petitioner No.1 were interested in marrying her with some other boy. The parents (respondents No.5 and 6) were against the marriage. Therefore, the petitioners finding no other option have solemnized their marriage amongst themselves on 11.3.2010 according to Hindu rites in a Mandir. It is submitted that the marriage was solemnized at Adhyatmik Arya Samaj Mission, Section 52, Chandigarh. The photographs (Annexure- P.3) and the certificate (Annexure-P.4) of marriage issued by Adhyatmic Arya Samaj Mission, Chandigarh have been placed on record. On account of the marriage that has been solemnized the petitioners apprehend danger to their life and liberty from respondents No.5 to 8 who, it is stated, are proclaiming that the petitioners would be implicated in a false criminal case. The petitioners have also submitted representation dated 11.3.2010 (Annexure-P.5) to SSP, Ferozepur (respondent No.2), S.H.O., P.S. Fazilka, District Ferozepur (respondent No.3) and Chowki In-charge, Police Post Mandi Ladhuka, District Ferozepur (respondent No.4) seeking protection of their life and liberty. However, despite that the threat to them persists. Therefore, they have filed the present petition. 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 to 4 that in case the petitioners approach any of them setting out their grievances as have been made in the present petition the Cr. Misc. No.M-7658 of 2010 [3] same shall be duly considered and looked into by them independently and in accordance with law. March 15, 2010. (S.S. Saron) Judge *hsp*