IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl. Misc. No. M-12721 of 2010 Date of decision: 3.5.2010 Nirmal and another …. Petitioners Versus State of Haryana and others ….. Respondents Present : Mr. Gourav Jain, Advocate for the petitioners. *** S.S. SARON, J. The petitioners are a newly married couple. They have filed the present petition for directing respondents No.2 and 3 to provide them police protection as they have married against the wishes of parents (respondents No.5 and 6) and uncle (respondent No.7) of petitioner No.1. Both the petitioners, it is stated, are major. The date of birth of petitioner No.1 as per her middle examination certificate (Annexure P1) issued by the Board of School Education Haryana is 2.4.1992. The date of birth of petitioner No.2 it is stated is 4.12.1987. He is more than 21 years of age. A reference has been made to the identity card (Annexure P2) issued by the Election Commission of India in which his date of birth is mentioned as 4.12.1987. The petitioners had known each other for the last 2-3 years and they belong to the same caste/community. They had a liking for each other and decided to solemnize their marriage amongst themselves. Crl. Misc. No. M-12721 of 2010 [2] They tried their best to convince the relatives and parents (respondents No.5 and 6) of petitioner No.1 about their marriage. However, the parents (respondents No.5 and 6) and relative of petitioner No.1 wanted to marry her with a boy of their choice. Petitioner No.2 even approached the parents (respondents No.5 and 6) of petitioner No.1 for the marriage but he was turned out. In view of the strong opposition, the petitioners left their house on 28.4.2010 and solemnized their marriage amongst themselves at Hanumant Dham Sector 40-B, Chandigarh. Copy of the marriage certificate (Annexure P3) and the photographs (Annexure P4) taken at the time of marriage have been placed on record. The parents (respondents No.5 and 6) and uncle (respondent No.7) in view of the marriage that has been solemnized by the petitioners have got annoyed with the petitioners. Therefore, the petitioners apprehend that a false FIR would be registered against them. The petitioners also submitted a representation dated 29.4.2010 (Annexure P5) to the Superintendent of Police, District Fatehabad (respondent No.2) for protecting their life and liberty. However, despite the said representation, the threat to the petitioners persists. Therefore, they have approached this Court. 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. She is happy with her marriage. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, the criminal miscellaneous petition is disposed of with a direction to Crl. Misc. No. M-12721 of 2010 [3] 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 same would be looked into by them independently and in accordance with law. (S.S. SARON) JUDGE May 3, 2010 amit