Rachna and Another Vs State of Punjab and Others — Punjab & Haryana HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Rachna and Another Vs State of Punjab and Others — Punjab & Haryana HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to respondent No.2 (Senior Superintendent of Police, District SAS Nagar, Mohali) to look into the petitioners' grievance and pass an appropriate order on merits in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the pleadings in the petition, preferably within one month of receipt of a certified copy of the order; the petition stands disposed of accordingly.

Issue for consideration

Whether directions should be issued to the official respondents to protect the petitioners' civil/personal rights and liberties from being invaded by the private respondents.

Court's answer

Without expressing any opinion on the validity of the marriage and the majority of the petitioners, the Court held it just and appropriate to direct respondent No.2 to look into the petitioners' grievance and pass an appropriate order on merits in accordance with law.

Ratio / Principle

Respondent No.2 is to pass the necessary order without being influenced by any pleadings made in the petition; the Court indicated it would be appreciated if the needful is done within one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of the order.

Key takeaways

The Court expressly refrained from expressing any opinion on the validity of the marriage and the majority of the petitioners.ratio¶¶24
The order shall not debar the official respondents from proceeding against any of the parties if they are involved in any other case.ratio¶¶25

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Punjab and Haryana High Court (Jasjit Singh Bedi, J., oral), 18.04.2026 — CRWP-4300-2026: Rachna and another, alleging a second marriage solemnized on 15.04.2026 after attaining majority and a reasonable apprehension/threat perception at the hands of private respondents, sought directions to official respondents for protection of their civil/personal rights and liberties. Having earlier represented to the Senior Superintendent of Police, District SAS Nagar (Mohali) (respondent no.2) on 15.04.2026 (Annexure P-7), the petitioners were, without any opinion being expressed on the validity of the marriage or their majority, granted a direction to respondent No.2 to look into their grievance and pass an appropriate order on merits in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the pleadings in the petition, the needful preferably to be done within one month of receipt of a certified copy of the order. It was clarified that the order shall not debar the official respondents from proceeding against any party involved in any other case. Petition disposed of accordingly.

CRWP-4300-2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

121

CRWP-4300-2026 Date of decision: 18.04.2026

RACHNA AND ANOTHER

.... PETITIONER(S)

VERSUS

STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

....RESPONDENT(S)

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI

Present: Mr. Kanwaljeet Singh, Advocate for the petitioners.

JASJIT SINGH BEDI, J. (Oral)

The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that this is the second marriage between the petitioners. The petitioners have prayed for the issuance of necessary directions to the official respondents for protecting their civil/personal rights and liberties from being invaded by the private respondents.

The petitioners are alleged to have solemnized marriage on 15.04.2026 (Annexure P-5) on attaining the age of majority. Petitioner No.1 was previously married to Sunil Kumar, who passed away on 14.12.2018. Out of the said wedlock, one male child was born, and both the petitioners are ready and willing to take full responsibility for the upbringing and welfare of the said child. Petitioner No.2 was earlier married to Alka Mourya, however, no child was born out of the said wedlock, and due to temperamental differences, they obtained a decree of divorce by mutual consent on 27.10.2022. The petitioners feel reasonable apprehension and a threat perception at the hands of the private respondents and pray that their

KUSUM 2026.04.18 16:11 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC Chandigarh

CRWP-4300-2026

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personal/civil rights be not violated by them.

Precisely, in the context of the aforesaid relief, the petitioners have approached the Senior Superintendent of Police, District SAS Nagar (Mohali) Punjab-respondent no.2 by way of a representation dated 15.04.2026 (Annexure P-7).

Notice of motion to respondents No. 1 to 3.

On the asking of the Court, Mr. Harkanwar Jeet Singh, AAG, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the State of Punjab.

At this stage, without expressing any opinion as to the validity of the marriage and majority of the petitioners, it would be just and appropriate to direct respondent No.2 to look into the grievance of the petitioners and pass an appropriate order on merits in accordance with law. Respondent No.2 would pass necessary order without being influenced by any pleadings made in the petition. It would be appreciated if the needful is done within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.

However, it is made clear that this order shall not debar the official respondents from proceeding against any of the parties, if they are involved in any other case.

The petition stands disposed of accordingly.

18.04.2026

(JASJIT SINGH BEDI) JUDGE

Kusum

Whether speaking/reasoned	Yes/No
Whether Reportable	Yes/No

KUSUM 2026.04.18 16:11 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC Chandigarh