In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh ...... Criminal Misc. No.M-10999 of 2010 ..... Date of decision:19.4.2010 Kiran and another .....Petitioners v. State of Haryana and others .....Respondents .... Present: Mr. Parminder Singh, Advocate for the petitioners. ..... S.S. Saron, J. The petitioners are a newly married couple. The petition has been filed for directing respondents No.1 to 3 to safeguard their life, dignity and liberty as they have solemnized their marriage against the wishes of respondents No.4 to 8, who are the father, brother-in-law (Jija) and uncles of petitioner No.1. Both the petitioners, it is stated, are major. The date of birth of petitioner No.1 as per her Matriculation certificate (Annexure-P.1) is 4.2.1985 and that of petitioner No.2 as per his Matriculation certificate (Annexure-P.2) is 17.3.1987. The petitioners had a liking for each other and, therefore, decided to solemnize their marriage amongst themselves. Petitioner No.2 is working in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and has sufficient income to maintain petitioner No.1. The petitioners disclosed their intention to marry each other to respondents No.4 to 8. However, instead of considering their proposal they got enraged and declared that the Cr. Misc. No.M-10999 of 2010 [2] marriage cannot be solemnized. Therefore, the petitioners on their own solemnized their marriage amongst themselves on 14.10.2009 at Swayamvar Sanskar Foundation, Chandigarh, which was performed by Purohit Mahinder Vachespaty according to Hindu rites and ceremonies. The certificate of marriage (Annexure-P.3) issued by Swayamvar Sanskar Foundation and the photographs (Annexure-P.4) regarding the ceremonies of marriage have been placed on record. On account of the marriage that has been solemnized the petitioners apprehend danger to their life and liberty. It is alleged that on 10.4.2010 in the evening the private respondents along with 10-15 persons came to the house of petitioner No.2 and forcibly tried to take away petitioner No.1. They slapped petitioner No.1 and when the family members of petitioner No.2 tried to intervene they beat them up. Thereafter, the other neighbours came at the spot and then petitioner No.1 was spared from private respondents but they threatened that they would come again. The petitioners have reasonable apprehension that they would be caused harm or other injuries by the private respondents. The petitioner No.1 has also submitted an application dated 11.4.2010 (Annexure-P.5) to the Superintendent of Police, Karnal (respondent No.2) for protecting the life, liberty and dignity of petitioner No.1 from her father and other relatives. Despite the said application 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. It is also stated that she is M.A. B.Ed. Cr. Misc. No.M-10999 of 2010 [3] 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. April 19, 2010. (S.S. Saron) Judge *hsp*