IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl. Misc. No. M-6988 of 2010 Date of decision : 9.3.2010 Suman Bala and another …. Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and others …. Respondents Present: Mr. Raj Pal Singh, Advocate for the petitioners. **** S.S. SARON, J. The petitioners had known each other since long. Therefore, on 5.3.2010, they solemnized their marriage amongst themselves by way of Anand Karaj at Gurudwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Baba Bakala, Amritsar. The certificate dated 5.3.2010 (Annexure P1) issued by Granthi of the said Gurudwara and photographs (Annexure P2) of the marriage have been placed on record. It is submitted that both the petitioners are major. The date of birth of petitioner No.1 as per her matriculation certificate (annexure P3) is 12.2.1989 and that of petitioner No.2 as per his driving licence (Annexure P4) is 24.4.1983. Petitioner No.2, it is submitted on instructions, has his own truck which he drives and earns his livelihood. The marriage that has been solemnized by the petitioners is an inter caste marriage and the parents (respondents No.4 and 5) and uncle (respondent No.6) of petitioner No.1 are opposed to the Crl. Misc. No. M-6988 of 2010 [2] marriage. They have held out threats to the petitioners and they have even chased the petitioners on coming to know about their marriage. The petitioners now apprehend danger to their life and liberty. The parents of petitioner No.2 were also against the marriage but with the intervention of relatives and friends, they have accepted the marriage of the petitioners. Petitioner No.1 also submitted an application dated 5.3.2010 (Annexure P5) to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar (respondent No.2) seeking protection for herself and her husband. However, despite the said application, the threat to them persists. Therefore, they have filed the present petition in 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 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 would be looked into by them independently and in accordance with law. (S.S. SARON) JUDGE March 9, 2010 amit