Disposed

Smt.Anjali and Another v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Allahabad HC9 Oct 2023WRIC/27524/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court issued protection to minor petitioners who married with consent while under 18, allowing them to live together free from parental interference, mandating police protection, but conditioning relief on registering the marriage within two months.

What did the court decide?

Protection order issued to respondents to secure life and liberty of petitioners; union public servants to provide immediate police protection.

Smt.Anjali and Another Vs State of U.P. and 3 Others — Matrimonial and Divorce | Allahabad HC (2023)

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Neutral Citation No. - 2023:AHC:193948

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Court No. - 50

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Case :- WRIT - C No. - 27524 of 2023

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Petitioner :- Smt.Anjali And Another Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Ajeet Kumar Srivastava Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.

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Hon'ble Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra,J.

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Instant civil misc. writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution has been filed by the petitioners with the following prayer:-

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i) issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondent nos. 1 to 3 to not to interfere with the peaceful wedding life of the petitioners and also not to harass or humiliate the petitioners in any manner whatsoever.

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ii) issue a writ, order or directing in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondent nos. 1 to 3 to provide adequate safety and security to the petitioners so that they may peacefully lead their wedded/ married life.

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Heard learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Standing Counsel for State-respondents and perused the record.

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Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that both the petitioners have solemnized their marriage out of their free will and choice as well as driven by love affairs on 02.08.2023 at a Shiv Temple, Bareilly after attaining the age of majority and consent for marriage as stated in paragraph 10 of the writ petition. Thereafter, they have applied on-line for registration of their marriage. They have every right to choose their life-partner being consenting adults. Both of them profess Hindu religion. The date of birth of petitioner No.1 is recorded as 21.06.2003 and that of petitioner No. 2 as 18.09.2001 in their respective Aadhar Cards. They have also filed a joint affidavit in support of their pleadings made in present petition and therefore, there is no legal impediment in their marriage.

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Learned counsel for the petitioners have averred in the writ petition that they are living as wife and husband and their

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relationship is not relished and agreed by respondent No. 4, who is father of petitioner No. 1. He is regularly hurling threats to the petitioners because petitioner No. 1 has solemnized marriage with petitioner No. 2 against his wishes and is trying to falsely implicate the petitioner No. 2 in false criminal case. They apprehend danger to their life and liberty from respondent No. 4 It is stated that they have apprehension that private respondent can eliminate them for the honour of their family. In case this Court does not grant them protection, their lives may be endangered. Petitioner No.1 had moved an application before respondent No. 2, S.S.P., Agra seeking protection for herself and petitioner No. 2 against respondent No. 4 and his family members, but no action has been taken.

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Learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel raised objection on contention made by learned counsel for the petitioners.

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In view of the order proposed to be passed, there is no need to issue notice to the private respondent. With the consent of learned counsel appearing for the parties, this writ petition is being disposed of finally at this stage in terms of the Rules of the Court.

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The Supreme Court in a long line of decisions has settled the law that where a boy and a girl are major and they are living with their free will, then, nobody, including their parents, has authority to interfere with their living together. Reference may be made to the judgements of the Supreme Court in the cases of Gian Devi v. The Superintendent, Nari Niketan, Delhi and others, (1976) 3 SCC 234 ; Lata Singh v. State of U.P. and another, (2006) 5 SCC 475; and Bhagwan Dass v. State (NCT of Delhi), (2011) 6 SCC 396 , which have consistently been followed by the Supreme Court and this Court in Deepika and another v. State of U.P. and others, 2013 (9) ADJ 534 . The Supreme Court in Gian Devi (supra) has held as under:

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"7. ... Whatever may be the date of birth of the petitioner, the fact remains that she is at present more than 18 years of age. As the petitioner is sui juris no fetters can be placed upon her choice of the person with whom she is to stay, nor can any restriction be imposed regarding the place where she should stay. The court or the relatives of the petitioner can also not substitute their opinion or preference for that of the petitioner in such a matter."

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Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the view that the petitioners are at liberty to live together and no person shall be permitted to interfere in their peaceful living. In

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case any disturbance is caused in the peaceful living of the petitioners, the petitioners shall approach the Superintendent of Police concerned, with a copy of this order, who shall provide immediate protection to the petitioners.

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A liberty is granted to the private respondent that if the documents brought on the record are fabricated or forged, it will be open for the respondent to file a recall application for recall of this order.

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The petitioners undertake to get their marriage registered under "Uttar Pradesh Marriages Registration Rules, 2017" within a period of two months. If the petitioners could not get their marriage registered within the stipulated period herein above, the protection granted under this order shall stand automatically vacated.

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It is made clear that this Court has not adjudicated upon the alleged marriage of the petitioners and this order, in no way, expresses opinion about the validity of their marriage.

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Therefore, the protection order in the nature of mandamus is issued to respondent numbers 2 and 3 to secure life and liberty of petitioners.

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With the aforesaid observations, the writ petition is disposed of . No order as to costs.

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Order Date :- 9.10.2023 Nitika Sri.

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Digitally signed by :- NITIKA SRIVASTAVA High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

Smt.Anjali and Another v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Case brief

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Smt.Anjali and Another v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Case brief

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