Allowed

Poonam Rani & Anr. v. State of Punjab & Ors.

Punjab & Haryana HC20 Jan 2011CRM-M/1887/2011

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioners filed a petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. seeking directions for security and protection from threats due to an inter-caste/religion marriage. The High Court directed the SSP, Patiala to investigate allegations and ensure security, defining criteria for major status based on age and the girl's wish.

What did the court decide?

Direction to Respondent No.2 (SSP, Patiala) to investigate allegations, ensure security, and not harass or arrest petitioners.

Poonam Rani & Anr. Vs State of Punjab & Ors. — Matrimonial and Divorce | Punjab & Haryana HC (2011)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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Crl.Misc. No. M-1887 of 2011 (O&M)

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Date of decision: 20.1.2011.

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Poonam Rani and another

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......Petitioners

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Vs.

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State of Punjab and others

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...Respondents

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CORAM:HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE DAYA CHAUDHARY.

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PRESENT: Mr.Balkar Singh, Advocate, for the petitioners.

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ORDER

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Crl.Misc.No. 3460 of 2011

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Crl.Misc.is allowed as prayed for.

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Crl.Misc.No. M-1887 of 2011

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The present petition has been filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for issuance of directions to the official respondents to provide adequate security to protect lives and liberty of the petitioners who apprehend threats to their lives at the hands of private respondents and for further direction not to harass and interfere in their peaceful married life and not to intrude into their privacy.

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The petitioners, who are present in the Court, claim to be major on the basis of documents annexed with the petition and they got married contrary to the wishes of their parents and are apprehending threats to their lives and liberty.

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Crl.Misc. No. M-1887 of 2011 [2]

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Even though this Court is disinclined to entertain and to go into such allegations, but at the same time it cannot be oblivious to the fact that because of social friction and sectarian differences such incidents are not entirely unheard of and prima facie the case also appears to be covered by the observations of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Fiaz Ahmed Ahanger and others v. State of J.& K. 2009(3) R.A.J. 692, which are as under:

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“ In such cases of inter-caste or inter religion marriage the Court has only to be satisfied about two things:

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(1)that the girl is above 18 years of age, in which case, the law regards her as a major vide Section 3 of the Indian Majority Act, 1875. A major is deemed by the law to know what is in his or her welfare.

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(2)The wish of the girl.

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In the circumstances, we direct that nobody will harass, threaten or commit any acts of violence or other unlawful act on the petitioner, Chanchali Devi/Mehvesh Anjum and the petitioner' family members and they shall not be arrested till further orders in connection with the case in question. If they feel insecure, they can apply to the police

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Crl.Misc. No. M-1887 of 2011 [3]

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and, in such event, the police shall grant protection to them.”

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In view of this, the petition is disposed of with a direction to Respondent No.2 i.e. Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala to look into the allegations as contained in the petition personally and take necessary steps in accordance with law if the situation so warrants.

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This order shall not be construed to be conferring the legitimacy or authenticity to the factum of marriage having been performed as the Court is clearly deprived of any means to determine the aforesaid facts.

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Copy of the petition along with a copy of this order be sent to respondent No.2.

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(DAYA CHAUDHARY) JUDGE

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January 20, 2011 raghav

Poonam Rani & Anr. v. State of Punjab & Ors.

Case brief

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Poonam Rani & Anr. v. State of Punjab & Ors.

Case brief

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