In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh ...... Criminal Misc. No.M-379 of 2010 ..... Date of decision:8.1.2010 Sukhwinder Singh and another .....Petitioners v. State of Punjab and others .....Respondents .... Present: Mr. G.P. Singh Ahluwalia, Advocate for the petitioners. ..... S.S. Saron, J. This petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed for directing respondents No.1 to 3 to protect the life and liberty of the petitioners and also protect the petitioners from false implication in a criminal case on the instigation of respondents No.4 to 8, who are the father and uncles respectively of petitioner No.2. Both the petitioner, it is stated, are major. The date of birth of petitioner No.1 as per his Matriculation certificate (Annexure-P.1) issued by the Punjab School Education Board is 8.1.1981 and that of petitioner No.2 as per her Senior Secondary School Examination certificate (Annexure-P.2) issued by the J&K State Board School Education is 7.2.1984. The petitioner No.2 is employed in a Bank at Udhampur and is doing her MBA. Petitioner No.1 is B.E. employed in Erricson Company. Both the petitioners are well educated and well settled. They had a liking for each other and decided to solemnize their marriage amongst themselves. However, the family of petitioner No.2 is not happy with the marriage as they belong to Cr. Misc. No.M-379 of 2010 [2] different religions. Petitioner No.2 was earlier a Muslim named Nahida Akhtar but she has changed her name as Reet Dhiman. The petitioner No.2 stayed with petitioner No.1 at Rajpura as his wife for some time but thereafter Police came from Udhampur and took them. Petitioner No.1 was kept in the lock-up for two days. Then the matter was compromised. The respondents No.4 to 8 have asked petitioner No.1 to change his religion. The petitioner No.2, however, sent away petitioner No.1. Later she tried to commit suicide. Now she is with petitioner No.1. The marriage between the petitioners was solemnized on 2.10.2008 as per Hindu rites and ceremonies. The certificate of marriage dated 10.11.2008 (Annexure-P.4) issued by the Purohit, Arya Samaj Janipur, Jammu and photographs (Annexure-P.5) regarding the solemnization of marriage between the petitioners have been placed on record. The petitioners are residing at House No.470, Devnagar Colony, Rajpura, District Patiala. Petitioner No.2 has also deposed an affidavit dated 3.11.2008 (Annexure-P.3) wherein she has inter alia stated that she had of her own renounced her religion and converted herself because she was solemnizing her marriage with petitioner No.1. On account of the marriage that has been solemnized, it is submitted that respondents No.4 to 6 and other family members of petitioner No.2 are harassing the petitioners and they can go to any extent to save their pride and they would kill both the petitioners to save family honour. The petitioners are running for a safe shelter and could not go back to their village. Both the petitioners are present in Court and are identified by their counsel. It is stated by petitioner No.2 that she has solemnized her marriage with petitioner No.1 of her own free will and desire and without Cr. Misc. No.M-379 of 2010 [3] any kind of pressure or undue influence. Besides, she is happy with her marriage. 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. January 8, 2010. (S.S. Saron) Judge *hsp*