IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl. Misc. No. M-7483 of 2010 Date of decision : 12.3.2010 Shinderpal Kaur and another …. Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and others …. Respondents Present: Mr. A.K. Sandhu, Advocate for the petitioners. **** S.S. SARON, J. The petitioners are a newly married couple and seek directions for directing respondents No.1 to 3 to protect their life and liberty from respondents No.4 to 7 who are the father, brother, uncle (cousin of the father of petitioner No.1) and brother-in-law (sister’s husband - Jija) of petitioner No.1 respectively. The petitioners, it is stated, are more than 20 years of age. The date of birth of petitioner No.1 as per her affidavit dated 8.3.2010 (Annexure P1) is 3.9.1989. The date of birth of petitioner No.2, it is stated, is 18.8.1982. A reference is made to the identity card (Annexure P2) issued by the Election Commission of India in which the age of petitioner No.2 as on 1.1.2004 is recorded as 20 years. The petitioners had known each other since a long time and they wanted to solemnize their marriage amongst themselves. They also requested their parents to arrange their marriage, but they were against the marriage of the petitioners. As the family of petitioner No.1 was settling her marriage somewhere else against her wishes and desire, the petitioners solemnized their Crl. Misc. No. M-7483 of 2010 [2] marriage amongst themselves on 8.3.2010 at Gurudwara Sri Akalgarh Sahib, Patiala Road, Zirakpur. Copy of the marriage certificate (Annexure P3) issued by the Gurudwara Sri Akalgarh Sahib and photographs (Annexure P4) of marriage have been placed on record. After marriage, petitioners No.1 and 2 received threats from respondents No.4 to 7 that they would be taught a lesson for getting married against their wishes. The petitioners apprehend danger that some harm may be caused to them as respondents No.4 to 7 are highly influential. They apprehend danger to their life and liberty. Petitioner No.2 also submitted a representation dated 8.3.2010 (Annexure P5) to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur (respondent No.2) seeking protection of his life and that of his wife and other family members. However, despite the said representation, the threat to them persists. 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) March 12, 2010 JUDGE amit