Disposed

Smt. Preeti Devi and Another v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Allahabad HC12 Oct 2023WRIC/35365/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The court disposed of a writ petition praying for protection against harassment and interference in the petitioners' matrimonial life. Directing the police to protect the couple and directing registration of their marriage, the court held that major individuals cannot be harassed despite parental disapproval, citing Supreme Court precedents.

What did the court decide?

Directing police to provide immediate protection to petitioners; directing registration of marriage within two months to maintain order efficacy.

Smt. Preeti Devi and Another Vs State of U.P. and… — Matrimonial and Divorce | Allahabad HC (2023)

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Neutral Citation No. - 2023:AHC:197619

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Court No. - 44

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Case :- WRIT - C No. - 35365 of 2023

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Petitioner :- Smt. Preeti Devi And Another Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Nitin Raj Singh Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.

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Hon'ble Prashant Kumar,J.

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Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Standing Counsel for the State respondents.

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By means of present writ petition, the petitioners have prayed for direction in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents not to harass and torture them by any mode or manner and also not to interfere in their peaceful matrimonial life.

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Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are major and have solemnized their marriage with each other according to Hindu Rites and Custom on 10.09.2023. No F.I.R. has been registered against them.

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Both the petitioners are identified by learned counsel appearing for the petitioners. Both the petitioners appear to be major as per averments made and the papers filed with the writ petition.

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The petitioners claim to be adults and married to each other of their own freewill, and for that they are being threatened and harassed.

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In Lata Singh vs. State of UP 2006 Cr.L.J. 3312 , while dealing with a case of harassment by the parents of the boy and girl, who had entered into inter-caste marriage, Hon'ble Supreme Court has issued directions to the Administration/Police authorities throughout the country in the following terms:-

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"This is a free and democratic country, and once a person becomes a major he or she can marry whosoever he/she likes. If the parents of the boy or girl do not approve of such inter-caste or inter-religious marriage the maximum they can do is that they can cut off social relations with the son or the daughter, but they cannot give threats or commit or instigate acts of violence and cannot harass the person who undergoes such inter-caste or inter- religious marriage. We, therefore, direct that the administration/police authorities throughout the country will see to it that if any boy or girl who is a major undergoes inter-caste or inter-religious marriage with a woman or man who is a major, the couple are not harassed by any one nor subjected to threats or acts of violence, and any one who gives such threats or harasses or

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commits acts of violence either himself or at his instigation, is taken to task by instituting criminal proceedings by the police against such persons and further stern action is taken against such persons as provided by law.".

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7. In Bhagwan Dass v. State (NCT of Delhi), (2011) 6 SCC 396 Hon'ble Supreme Court held in paragraph 28 and 29 as under:-

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"28. ..... Often young couples who fall in love have to seek shelter in the police lines or protection homes, to avoid the wrath of kangaroo courts. We have held in Lata Singh case that there is nothing "honourable" in "honour" killings, and they are nothing but barbaric and brutal murders by bigoted persons with feudal minds. In our opinion honour killings, for whatever reason, come within the category of the rarest of rare cases deserving death punishment. It is time to stamp out these barbaric, feudal practices which are a slur on our nation. This is necessary as a deterrent for such outrageous, uncivilised behavior. All persons who are planning to perpetrate "honour" killings should know that the gallows await them.

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29. Let a copy of this judgment be sent to the Registrars General/ Registrars of all the High Courts who shall circulate the same to all the Judges of the Courts. The Registrars General/ Registrars of the High Courts will also circulate copies of the same to all the Sessions Judges/ Additional Sessions Judges in the States/Union Territories. Copies of the judgment shall also be sent to all the Chief Secretaries/ Home Secretaries/ Directors General of Police of all States/ Union Territories in the country. The Home Secretaries and Directors General of Police will circulate the same to all SSPs/SPs in the States/Union Territories for information."

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In view of the above, the writ petition is finally disposed of with the direction that petitioners are at liberty to live together. No person shall be permitted to interfere in their peaceful living. In case any disturbance is caused in the peaceful living of the petitioners, the petitioners shall approach the concerned Senior Superintendent of Police or Superintendent of Police with a certified copy of this order, who shall provide immediate protection to the petitioners.

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However, this order in no way expresses opinion about the validity of their marriage and genuineness of their marriage certificate. This order shall not protect the petitioners against any action or proceedings pursuant to any F.I.R. or complaint case against him/her/them.

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The petitioners shall get their marriage registered under the "Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules, 2017" within two months from today, failing which this order will automatically come to an end.

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The Registrar of Marriages concerned is directed to process and issue the registration certificate to the petitioners as per law at the earliest.

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Order Date :- 12.10.2023

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S.P.

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Digitally signed by :- SANJAY PURI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

Smt. Preeti Devi and Another v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Case brief

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Smt. Preeti Devi and Another v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Case brief

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