Disposed¶26

Monika & Anr. v. State Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors.

Delhi HC12 Mar 2025W.P.(CRL)/843/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Police protection writ petition; Delhi High Court; Justice Sanjeev Narula; W.P.(CRL) 843/2025; 12.03.2025; Article 226; Article 21; consensual live-in relationship; arranged marriage refused; confinement and beating by family; complaint P.S. Badi Sonipat Haryana; SHO directed to protect; beat constable sensitized; telephone numbers shared; petition disposed; Monika & Anr. v State Govt of NCT of Delhi.

What did the court decide?

Police protection for the Petitioners: adequate protection by the SHO of the concerned Police Station, sensitization of the beat constable, and provision of the concerned Police Station's and beat constable's telephone numbers to the Petitioners. ¶26

Monika & Anr. Vs State Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors. — Writ and Judicial Review | Delhi HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶26

Issue for consideration

Whether the Petitioners, both of whom have attained the age of majority and are in a consensual live-in relationship, facing an apprehended risk to their lives at the hands of Respondents No. 6 to 11, are entitled to police protection from the State, sought through a writ petition filed under Article 226 invoking their Article 21 right to life and personal liberty.

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Court's answer

The Court found that both Petitioners have attained the age of majority and are in a consensual relationship, and that their fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India is under threat at the instance of Respondents No. 6 to 11.

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Ratio / Principle

Directed that the SHO of the concerned Police Station shall provide adequate protection to the Petitioners.

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Key takeaways

Further directed that the beat constable of the concerned Police Station shall be sensitized in this behalf.ratio¶22
Furthermore directed that the telephone numbers of the concerned Police Station and of the beat constable shall be provided to the Petitioners so as to enable them to contact the officers in the event of any threat or apprehension.ratio¶22

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi HC (Justice Sanjeev Narula), order dated 12.03.2025 in W.P.(CRL) 843/2025 (Monika & Anr. v. State Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors.; pending application CRL.M.A. 7823/2025): Petitioner No. 1, aged 18, after refusing a marriage fixed without her consent, was confined and beaten by Respondents No. 6-11 (her family members) on 27.02.2025; she left home on her own free will, entered a live-in relationship with Petitioner No. 2 under an agreement dated 1st March, 2025, following which Respondents 6 and 7 complained at P.S. Badi, Sonipat, Haryana against the Petitioners and their two witness-friends, while the Petitioners' complaint of 3rd March, 2025 to Respondents 2-5 drew no action. Finding both Petitioners to be majors in a consensual relationship whose Article 21 right was under threat at the instance of Respondents 6-11, the Court, in a petition filed under Article 226, directed the SHO of the concerned Police Station to provide adequate protection, directed sensitization of the beat constable, and directed that the Station's and beat constable's telephone numbers be furnished to the Petitioners; the writ petition and pending application were disposed of. No precedent cited.

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$~51

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- W.P.(CRL) 843/2025, CRL.M.A. 7823/2025

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MONIKA & ANR. .....Petitioner

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Through: Mr. S. H. Ansari, Advocate.

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versus

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STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Rupali Bandhopadhya, ASC. SI Praveen and SI Paramjeet, PS: Ranhola.

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CORAM:

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA O R D E R

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% 12.03.2025

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Issue notice. Counsel mentioned in the appearance above accept notice.

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The present petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950 seek police protection from Respondents No. 6 to 11, who are the family members of Petitioner No. 1.

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A brief background of the case, as alleged by the Petitioner, is as follows:

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3.1. Petitioner No. 1, aged 18 years, was pursuing B.Com and during her first year, her family members fixed her marriage with one Mr. Nikhil, without her consent. When Petitioner No. 1 objected to the same, Respondents No. 6 to 11 confined her in the house and became violent with her. On 27^th February, 2025, she was beaten due to which she sustained

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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 17/03/2025 at 11:23:02

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injuries.

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3.2. Subsequently, she left her parental home on her own free will, and contacted Petitioner No. 2. Since then, they have been in a live-in relationship and for this purpose they have executed an agreement dated 1^st March, 2025.

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3.3. Upon knowing of the said agreement, Respondents No. 6 and 7, parents of Petitioner No. 1 filed a complaint at P.S. Badi, Sonipat, Haryana against the Petitioners and their two friends who were witnesses to the livein agreement.

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3.4. The Petitioners and the witnesses made a complaint dated 3^rd March, 2025 to Respondents No. 2 to 5, however, no action has been taken against Respondents No. 6 to 11.

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3.5. The Petitioners apprehend a risk to their lives at the hands of Respondents No. 6 to 11 and have invoked their right to life and personal liberty.

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The Court has considered the afore-noted facts and submissions. The Petitioners, who have both attained the age of majority, are in a consensual relationship. In the present matter, the Petitioners’ fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India is under threat at the instance of Respondents No. 6 to 11. Thus, in view of the facts and circumstances of the case, it is directed that the SHO of the concerned Police Station shall provide adequate protection to the Petitioners. It is further directed that the beat constable of the concerned Police Station shall be sensitized in this behalf. Furthermore, the telephone numbers of the concerned Police Station as well as of the beat constable shall also be provided to the Petitioners in order to enable them to contact the officers, in the event of any threat or

¶23

This is a digitally signed order.

¶24

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 17/03/2025 at 11:23:02

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apprehension.

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

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SANJEEV NARULA, J

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MARCH 12, 2025 d.negi

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This is a digitally signed order.

¶30

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 17/03/2025 at 11:23:02

Monika & Anr. v. State Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Monika & Anr. v. State Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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