Disposed

Archana Devi & Anr. v. the State Govt. NCT of Delhi & Ors.

Delhi HC20 Dec 2025W.P.(CRL)/4162/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

A married couple apprehending threats, including honour-killing threats, from the wife's family sought police protection. The Court affirmed the right of consenting adults to choose their partners under Article 21 and directed the SHO and beat constable to extend assistance. Petition disposed of.

What did the court decide?

Directions to the concerned SHO and beat constable to remain sensitised and extend assistance; residence details shared with Investigating Officer for coordination.

Archana Devi & Anr. Vs the State Govt. NCT of Delhi… — Writ and Judicial Review | Delhi HC (2025)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- W.P.(CRL) 4162/2025 & CRL.M.A. 37519/2025

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ARCHANA DEVI & ANR. .....Petitioners

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Through: Mr. Mohsin Qureshi, Advocate and Mr. Shreyansh Jain, Advocates. Petitioners (in-Persons).

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versus

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THE STATE GOVT. NCT OF DELHI & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Rahul Tyagi, ASC (Crl.) with Mr. Sangeet Sibou, Ms. Priya Rai and Mr. Shubham Goyal, Advocates for State. SI Amit, P.S. S.P. Badli, Delhi.

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CORAM:

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA

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O R D E R

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% 20.12.2025 1. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) seeks directions to Respondents No. 1 to 3 to protect the life and personal liberty of the Petitioners, who apprehend threat at the hands of Respondents No. 4 to 8, being the family members of Petitioner No. 1 (wife).

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The Petitioners assert that they are majors and solemnized their marriage on 25^th November, 2025 in Delhi, according to Hindu rites and customs. The marriage has thereafter been registered before the competent authority. Documents evidencing the age of the Petitioners as well as the marriage certificate have been placed on record.

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/12/2025 at 13:19:37

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It is the case of the Petitioners that the family members of Petitioner No. 1 are opposed to their marriage and have extended threats of serious harm, including threats of honour killing. Owing to such apprehension, Petitioner No. 1 left her parental home on 24^th November, 2025. The Petitioners have lodged a complaint dated 28^th November, 2025 to the local police authorities seeking protection.

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This Court has interacted with Petitioner No. 1, who has affirmed that she has married Petitioner No. 2 (husband) of her own free will, without any coercion or pressure, and is presently residing with her husband. She has further stated that she does not wish to return to her parental home and apprehends interference from her family members.

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The right of two consenting adults to choose their life partners and to live together in peace is an intrinsic facet of personal liberty, dignity, and privacy protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Family disapproval, howsoever strong, cannot justify intimidation or threats of violence.

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At the same time, at this stage, the Court is not called upon to adjudicate the correctness or otherwise of the allegations levelled against the private Respondents. The relief sought is confined to the protection of life and liberty.

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Mr. Rahul Tyagi, ASC (Crl.) for the State, submits that the contact details of the concerned Police Station and the beat constable have already been provided to the Petitioners. He further assures the Court that the SHO of the concerned Police Station shall extend appropriate assistance to the Petitioners, should any apprehension arise. Nonetheless, it is also directed that the beat constable of the concerned area shall continue to remain

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/12/2025 at 13:19:37

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sensitised in this regard. Details of the Petitioners’ present residence be supplied to the Investigating Officer present in Court, to facilitate coordination, if required.

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It is clarified that this Court has not issued notice to, nor heard, Respondents No. 4 to 8. The directions issued herein are passed solely on the basis of the averments made in the petition and the interaction with Petitioner No. 1, and shall not be construed as an expression on the merits or veracity of the allegations. All rights and contentions of the parties are left open.

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With the above directions, the present writ petition is disposed of along with pending application.

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SANJEEV NARULA, J

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DECEMBER 20, 2025 /as

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/12/2025 at 13:19:37

Archana Devi & Anr. v. the State Govt. NCT of Delhi & Ors.

Case brief

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Archana Devi & Anr. v. the State Govt. NCT of Delhi & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

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