Allowed

Pooja Kumari and Another v. State of Punjab and Others

Punjab & Haryana HC25 Sept 2024CRWP/9354/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioners in a live-in relationship apprehending threat to their lives sought police protection under Article 21. The court directed the concerned SP/SHO to assess and extend appropriate protection for one week, subject to conditions, without adjudicating on merits; the order lapses after fifteen days.

What did the court decide?

Police protection directed for one week from the date of order, extendable on day-to-day analysis of ground realities or on request; order eclipses after fifteen days.

Pooja Kumari and Another Vs State of Punjab and… — Bail and Remand | Punjab & Haryana HC (2024)

¶1

¶2

CRWP No.9354 of 2024

¶3

121 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

¶4

CRWP No.9354 of 2024 Date of Decision: 25.09.2024

¶5

Pooja Kumari and another ...Petitioner

¶6

Versus

¶7

State of Punjab and others …Respondents

¶8

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANOOP CHITKARA

¶9

Present: Mr. G.S. Bhinder, Advocate and Mr. S.K. Choudhary, Advocate for the petitioners.

¶10

Ms. Swati Batra, DAG, Punjab.

¶11

¶12

ANOOP CHITKARA, J.

¶13

Apprehending threat to their lives and liberty at the hands of the private respondents, the petitioners who claim to be in a live-in relationship, have come up before this Court by invoking their fundamental rights of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, seeking direction to the State to protect them from the private respondents.

¶14

Notices served upon the official respondents through the State's counsel. Given the nature of the order that this Court proposes to pass, neither the response of official respondents nor the issuance of notices to the private respondents is required.

¶15

Although both the petitioners were already married, still if the allegations of apprehension of threat to their lives turn out to be true, it might lead to an irreversible loss. Thus, in the facts and circumstances peculiar to this case, it shall be appropriate that the concerned Superintendent of Police, SHO, or any officer to whom such powers have been delegated or have been authorized in this regard, provide appropriate protection to the petitioners for one week from today. However, if the petitioners no longer require the protection, then at their request it may be discontinued even before the expiry of one week. After that, the concerned officers shall extend the protection on day-to-day analysis of the ground realities or upon the oral or written request of the petitioners.

¶16

ANJU RANI 2024.09.26 09:35 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh

¶17

¶18

CRWP No.9354 of 2024

¶19

The protection is subject to the stringent condition that from the time such protection is given, the petitioners shall refrain from attending parties, bars, picnics or any area that may pose a risk to their life. The SHO should send police officer(s) to petitioners’ home to assess the required level of security. Once the assessment is done, the officer should provide adequate security without the petitioners having to contact them.

¶20

It is clarified that there is no adjudication on merits and that this order is not a blanket bail in any FIR. It is further clarified that this order shall not come in the way if the interrogation of the petitioners is required in any cognizable case. It shall also be open for the petitioner(s) to approach this Court again in case of any fresh threat perception.

¶21

This order shall eclipse after fifteen days from today .

¶22

There would be no need for a certified copy of this order, and any Advocate for the Petitioner and State can download this order and other relevant particulars from the official web page of this court and attest it to be a true copy. The concerned officer can also verify its authenticity and may download and use the downloaded copy for immediate use.

¶23

Petition is allowed to the extent mentioned above . All pending applications, if any, stand disposed.

¶24

(ANOOP CHITKARA) JUDGE 25.09.2024 anju rani Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes Whether reportable: No.

¶25

ANJU RANI 2024.09.26 09:35 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh

Pooja Kumari and Another v. State of Punjab and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Pooja Kumari and Another v. State of Punjab and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Kamaldeep Singh Vs State of Punjab

Raj Kumar Vs State of Punjab and Anr.

Sushil Kumar Vs State of Haryana

Deepak Vs State of Punjab and Ors.

Meenakshi and Anr. Vs State of Punjab and Ors.

Pardeep Kumar and Another Vs State of Punjab and Others