IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl.Misc.No.M-26297 of 2009 (O&M) Date of decision : 17.9.2009 Jyoti Bala and another ....Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and others ...Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MAHESH GROVER .... Present : Mr.R.C.Sharma, Advocate for the petitioners. ..... MAHESH GROVER, J. Crl.Misc.No.47748 of 2009 is allowed. This is a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure praying for directions to respondent Nos.1 to 3 to protect their life and liberty which is alleged to be in danger at the hands of respondent Nos.4 and 5 on account of their having got married against their parental consent. Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that both the petitioners are major. Even though this court is disinclined to entertain and to go into such allegations, but at the same time it cannot be oblivious to the fact that because of social friction and sectarian differences such incidents are not entirely unheard of and prima facie the case also Crl.Misc.No.M-26297 of 2009 (O&M) -2- appears to be covered by the observations of Supreme Court in Fiaz Ahmed Ahanger & Ors. v. State of J & K 2009(3) R.A.J.692, which are as under :- “In such cases of intercaste or inter-religion marriage the Court has only to be satisfied about two things : (1) that the girl is above 18 years of age, in which case, the law regards her as a major vide Section 3 of the Indian Majority Act, 1875. A major is deemed by the law to know what is in his or her welfare. (2) The wish of the girl. In the circumstances, we direct that nobody will harass, threaten or commit any acts of violence or other unlawful act on the petitioner, Chanchali Devi/Mehvesh Anjum and the petitioner's family members and they shall not be arrested till further orders in connection with the case in question. If they feel insecure, they can apply to the police and, in such event, the police shall grant protection to them.” In view of this, the petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.2 to look into the allegations as contained in the petition personally and take necessary steps in accordance with law if the situation so warrants. This order shall not be construed to be conferring the legitimacy or authenticity to the factum of marriage having been Crl.Misc.No.M-26297 of 2009 (O&M) -3- performed as the Court is clearly deprived of any means to determine the aforesaid facts. Copy of the petition along with a copy of this order be sent to respondent No.2. 17.9.2009 (MAHESH GROVER) JUDGE dss