SAGAR SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The instant criminal writ petition filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of directions to the officials respondents to initiate action on the representation dtd. 12/6/2023 (Annexure P-3) submitted to the official respondents for protecting the life and liberty of the petitioners and with a further direction that the private respondents should not interfere in the personal life of the petitioners.

(2.) Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners has contended that engagement ceremony of the petitioners was performed and arrange marriage was fixed by the families of both the petitioners. He submits that petitioner No.2 is a minor and now respondent No.4, her father, has broken the engagement becasue an older man has offered him to take his daughter abroad.

(3.) The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 stipulates conditions where a minor is being forcibly subjected to perform marriage contrary to her will and to incorporate that it would\ be a case of a minor in need of care and protection of the state in terms of Sec. 2(14)(vii)(xii) which is reproduced as under: