SHEETAL Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Fearing for their lives and liberty at the hands of the private respondents, the petitioners who claim to be in a live-in relationship, after crossing eighteen years of age, 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.

(2.) 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. Learned State counsel submits that after receipt of copy of this petition, the concerned official has recorded the statements of father of both the petitioners that they have no objection for this marriage.

(3.) 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.