IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Writ Petition No.1366 of 2011 Date of decision: 20th October, 2011 Pushpa Rani … Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others … Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. B.S. Mann, Advocate for Ms. Gursharan K. Mann, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. K.D.S. Sidhu, Additional AG Punjab for respondents No.1 to 3. Mr. A.S. Khinda, Advocate for respondent No.4. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) Present criminal writ petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that a writ in the nature of habeas corpus be issued and respondents be directed to produce Madhu Bala, minor daughter of the petitioner, who is stated to be aged about 14 years. Madhu Bala is today present in the Court with her husband Manjit Singh-respondent No.4. Madhu Bala has been identified by Mr.B.S. Mann, counsel for the petitioner and Mr.A.S. Khinda, counsel for respondent No.4. Madhu Bala has disputed her age and has stated that she is a major. She has further stated that she has married to Manjit Singh-respondent No.4 according to her own accord and she wants to reside with her husband-Manjit Singh. She has claimed herself to be Criminal Writ Petition No.1366 of 2011 legally wedded wife of respondent No.4. The petitioner Pushpa Rani, mother of Madhu Bala, who is present in Court, was given an opportunity to interact with her daughter Madhu Bala. But Madhu Bala is determined to stay with her husband. In these circumstances, counsel for the petitioner has stated that he be permitted to withdraw the present petition with liberty to take recourse to the lawful remedy for prosecution of respondent No.4 for child marriage or for allurement/abduction. As prayed, dismissed as withdrawn, with liberty aforesaid. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE October 20, 2011 rps 2