POOJA GURJAR Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners had filed the crl. misc. petition seeking police protection at their residence and place of work. According to the petitioners, they got married on 22/3/2022. However, this marriage was not approved by their relatives and respondents No. 4 to 14 and fearing them, they had filed the said petition.

(2.) The State has a duty to protect the life and liberty of the citizens. The petitioners as adult citizens have a right to choose their partners. When the question of life and liberty comes, we would prefer to err on safer side.

(3.) It is well settled legal position as expounded by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Lata Singh Vs. State of UP [AIR2006 SC 2522], S. Khushboo Vs. Kanniammal [(2010) 5SCC 600], Indra Sarma Vs. VKV Sarma [(2013) 15 SCC 755] and Shafin Jahan Vs. Asokan KM [(2018) 16 SCC 368] that the society cannot determine how individuals live their lives, especially when they are major, irrespective of the fact that the relation between two major individuals may be termed as unsocial. Thus, life and personal liberty of the individuals has to be protected except according to procedure established by law, as mandated by Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Further, as per Sec. 29 of the Rajasthan Police Act, 2007 every police officer is duty bound to protect the life and liberty of the citizens.