IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P.No.1366 of 2010 Date of Decision:- 22.02.2011 Manpreet Kaur and others ....Petitioner(s) vs. The State of Punjab and others ....Respondent(s) *** CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RANJAN GOGOI, CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH *** Present:- Ms.Madhu Dayal, Additional Advocate General, Punjab. *** Ranjan Gogoi, CJ. (Oral) The suo motu action has been registered on the basis of an application received by the Chief Justice's Secretariat by post. In the said application, one Manpreet Kaur has stated that she had married one Harpreet Singh. According to the applicant-Manpreet Kaur, her parents have not accepted the marriage and, therefore, she apprehends that physical harm may be caused to her by her father, uncles and other relatives. Accordingly, she has prayed for an order directing police protection. The application is accompanied by a complaint dated 1.1.2011 filed by the applicant before different Authorities of the State including the Senior Superintendent of Police, Khanna City, Ludhiana District and S.H.O. of Police Station Chabbewal, District Hoshiarpur. In the said complaint, the applicant has given her C.W.P.No.1366 of 2010 -2- address as follows:- “Manpreet Kaur W/o Harpreet Singh S/o Hira Lal Mahar Age about 18 years R/o H.N.282, Ward No.13, Nr. ITI Bhagwanpura road Samrala Dis.Ludhiana Punjab 141114” Reading the application filed by Manpreet Kaur, we find that the marriage between Manpreet Kaur and Harpreet Singh took place in Gujarat and that for the last several months the young couple has been residing outside Punjab on account of fear of reprisal from the family members of the husband Harpreet Singh (petitioner No.2). Considering the tone and tenor as well as the contents of the application, we are of the view that the apprehension expressed by Manpreet Kaur has been founded on a reasonable basis and, therefore, police protection should be directed to be provided to her and her husband. The Sr. Superintendent of Police, Khanna City, District Ludhiana and SHO, Police Station Chabbewal, District Hoshiarpur will act accordingly. However, it is made clear that police protection that has been provided by the Court is only to ensure the security of lives of the two persons i.e. Manpreet Kaur and Harpreet Singh and the same will not come in the way of any action in accordance with law that may be initiated against either of the aforesaid two persons. Writ petition stands disposed of. After the above order has been dictated, the learned Additional Advocate General, Punjab, Ms.Dayal, on instructions received, has submitted that the address of the applicant Manpreet Kaur furnished in the C.W.P.No.1366 of 2010 -3- complaint has been verified and the parents of the husband (petitioner No.2) of the applicant are reported to have sold off the property and moved elsewhere. If the above is correct, the Court directs the Police Commissioner, Ludhiana to cause an enquiry with regard to the present address of the concerned persons and to ensure police protection accorded by this order to the said persons at the new address. ( RANJAN GOGOI ) CHIEF JUSTICE February 22, 2011 ( AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH ) poonam JUDGE