Deepti Sharma and Another Vs State of… — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

Deepti Sharma and Another Vs State of… — 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 them protection if there is any threat to their life and liberty, subject to the express clarification that the order confers no protection from legal action for any violation of law committed by them.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners, who claim to have married against the wishes of respondents No.4 to 8, are entitled to protection of their life and liberty from the danger they apprehend at the hands of these private respondents.

Court's answer

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

Ratio / Principle

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

Key takeaways

This order shall not 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 placed on file.ratio¶21

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Protection of life and liberty - married couple fearing private respondents. Oral single-judge disposition of a writ petition (CRWP) filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by Deepti Sharma and another, who claimed to have married against the wishes of respondents No.4 to 8 and sought protection from respondents No.2 and 3 after an unanswered representation dated 07.05.2025. Without commenting on the validity of the alleged marriage or the evidentiary value of the documents on file, the Court disposed of the petition directing respondent No.2 to decide the representation (Annexure P-5) within one week of receipt of a certified copy and grant protection if any threat to life and liberty exists; the order expressly confers no immunity from legal action for violation of law.

CRWP-4796-2025

-1-

133

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CRWP-4796-2025 (O&M) Date of decision: 09.05.2025

Deepti Sharma 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.2 & 3 to protect the life and liberty of petitioners at the hands of private respondents.

It is averred in the petition that the petitioners have married against the wishes of respondents No.4 to 8 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-4796-2025 -2-

major and seek protection to their life and liberty. They apprehend danger from respondents No.4 to 8. They have placed on record marriage certificate (Annexure P-3) to substantiate their claim. The petitioners have also submitted a representation dated 07.05.2025 (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