IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR FRIDAY, THE 13TH JUNE 2008 / 23RD JYAISHTA 1930 WP(Crl.).No. 194 OF 2008(S) PETITIONER: P.BALA GOPAL, S/O.PADMANABHA PILLAI, KUZHIKKARA, VALLIKEEZHU, KUREEPUZHA CHERRY, KAVANAD P.O., KOLLAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.B.MOHANLAL SRI.SAIJU.S. RESPONDENTS: 1. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, POLICE HEADQUARTERS, KOLLAM. 2. THE CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHAVARA, KOLLAM. 3. THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, SAKTHIKULANGARA POLICE STATION, KOLLAM. 4. SRI.RATHEESH NARAYANAN, S/O.NARAYANAN, KARIKKATHIL VEEDU, MIYANNOOR P.O., KOTTARA, VELIYAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT. 5. SMT.RAJAMMA, W/O.LATE SRI.NARAYANAN, KARIKKATHIL VEEDU, MIYANNOOR P.O., KOTTARA, VELIYAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT. 6. SMT.NISHA, D/O.RAJAMMA, KARIKKATHIL VEEDU, MIYANNOOR P.O., KOTTARA, VELIYAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT. 7. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KOCHI CITY, KOCHI. GOVT. PLEADER SMT. M.K. PUSHPALATHA. THIS WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 13/06/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(CRL.) 194/2008 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 TRUE COPY OF THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE BETROTHAL CEREMONY OF THE PETITIONER'S DAUGHJTER CONDUCTED ON 28.2.2008. // TRUE COPY // P.S. TO JUDGE. KNC/- P.R. RAMAN & T.R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, JJ. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = W.P. (CRL) NO. 194 OF 2008 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = DATED THIS, THE 13TH DAY OF JUNE, 2008. J U D G M E N T Raman, J. Alleging that his daughter Ms. Lakshmi Gopal is under the illegal custody of Respondents 4 to 6, petitioner has approached this Court by filing this writ petition. 2. Pursuant to the notice issued, the parties appeared. The alleged detenue Ms. Lakshmi Gopal submitted that she has completed M.Com. and studying for M.B.A., that her parents had arranged for a marriage and engagement ceremony was on 28.2.2008, that she was not happy with the proposed marriage; but this was not disclosed to her parents and according to her she was in deep love with the 4th respondent who was working along with her in the same office. They have decided to marry and left the house. She also submitted that her marriage with the 4th respondent was performed in a temple at Sasthamkotta and the receipt issued by the Devaswom was produced. 3. We have interacted with the 4th respondent, his mother as also the parents of the girl. We gave sufficient time to the parties to come to WP(CRL) 194/2008 :2: an amicable settlement. But a decision regarding the marriage of the alleged detenue with the 4th respondent could not be taken and the father submitted that Ms. Lakshmi may be sent along with him. 4. We find that the alleged detenue Ms. Lakshmi Gopal is sufficiently matured and educated to take a decision in the matter. She left the house on her own accord and submitted that she is not under the illegal custody of the 4th respondent as alleged. Therefore, we close this writ petition and declare that Ms. Lakshmi Gopal is a free person and it is up to her to decide as to whether she should go along with her parents or along with the 4th respondent. She is set free. The writ petition is closed. P.R. RAMAN, (JUDGE) T.R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, (JUDGE) knc/-