Rahul Ahuja and Anr. Vs State of Punjab… — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

Rahul Ahuja and Anr. Vs State of Punjab… — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to respondent No.2 to decide the petitioners' representation (Annexure P-5) within one week from receipt of a certified copy of the order and to grant protection if there is any threat to their life and liberty; the order shall not shield the petitioners from legal action for any violation of law.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Court should issue a writ of mandamus under Article 226 directing respondents No.1 to 3 to protect the petitioners' life and liberty from private respondents (No.4 to 6) and their companions.

Court's answer

The Court disposed of the petition, directing respondent No.2 to decide the petitioners' representation (Annexure P-5) within one week from receipt of a certified copy of the order.

Ratio / Principle

Respondent No.2 is to grant the petitioners protection if there is any threat to their life and liberty.

Key takeaways

The order shall not be taken to protect the petitioners from legal action for violation of law, if any committed by them.ratio¶21
The Court expressly declined to comment on the validity of the marriage allegedly performed by the petitioners and did not enter upon evaluating the evidentiary value of the documents on file.ratio¶21

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, CRWP-4750-2025 (O&M), decided 09.05.2025 by Harpreet Singh Brar, J. (oral): Writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by Rahul Ahuja and another, who allege they married against the wishes of respondents No.4 to 6, claim to be major, and apprehend danger from them; marriage certificate (Annexure P-3) and a representation dated 02.05.2025 (Annexure P-5) to respondent No.2 (on which no action had been taken) were on record. The Court, without commenting on the validity of the marriage or the evidentiary value of the documents, disposed of the petition directing respondent No.2 to decide the representation within one week of receipt of a certified copy of the order and to grant protection if there is any threat to the petitioners' life and liberty, clarifying that the order shall not protect them from legal action for any violation of law.

CRWP-4750-2025

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111

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CRWP-4750-2025 (O&M) Date of decision: 09.05.2025

Rahul Ahuja and another

... Petitioners

Vs.

State of Punjab and others

... Respondents

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR

Present: None for the petitioners.

HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (ORAL)

In view of imminent threat perception due to prevailing situation in the country, the Bar Association of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh has declared 09.05.2025 as ‘No Work Day’. As such, the lawyers are abstaining from work.

Present petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondents No.1 to 3 to protect the life and liberty of petitioners at the hands of private respondents and their companions.

It is averred in the petition that the petitioners have married against the wishes of respondents No.4 to 6 and they claim themselves to be

VISHNU 2025.05.09 13:12 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

CRWP-4750-2025 -2-

major and seek protection to their life and liberty. They apprehend danger from respondents No.4 to 6. They have placed on record marriage certificate (Annexure P-3) to substantiate their claim. The petitioners have also submitted a representation dated 02.05.2025 (Annexure P-5) to respondent No.2 but no action has been taken so far.

Without commenting on validity of the marriage allegedly performed by the petitioners and entering upon an exercise to evaluate the evidentiary value of the documents placed on the file, I dispose of this petition with direction to respondent No.2 to decide representation of the petitioners (Annexure P-5) within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order and grant them protection, if there is any threat to their life and liberty. It is made clear that this order shall not be taken to protect the petitioners from legal action for violation of law, if any committed by them.

[ HARPREET SINGH BRAR ] 09.05.2025 JUDGE vishnu Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No

VISHNU 2025.05.09 13:12 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh