'No Police Protection For Couples Marrying Against Parents' Wishes Without Proven Threat': Allahabad HC

Prayagraj: The on Wednesday, April 16, ruled that couples who choose to marry of their own volition, without the permission of their parents, cannot demand any police protection as a matter of right unless there's a real threat to their life or liberty.

The court gave the judgment in response to a plea filed by a newlywed married couple, seeking protection from alleged harassment by their relatives.

What Was the Plea About?

Justice Saurabh Srivastava, while hearing a writ petition filed by Shreya Kesarwani and her husband, emphasised that in the absence of a serious threat, such couples should "learn to support each other and face the society."

The couple had approached the court, alleging interference in their marital life by their relatives.

However, the court found no evidence of danger to the couple's life or liberty. “There is not even an iota of evidence to evince that private respondents… are likely to cause physical or mental assault to the petitioners,” the order stated, as per a report by PTI.

The court also said that the couple had not approached the police with any formal complaint or sought the registration of an FIR.

'Courts Not Intended to Provide Protection to Every Couple'

Referring to the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Lata Singh vs State of UP, the HC reiterated that courts are not intended to provide protection to every couple who elopes for marriage. “There is no requirement of passing any order for providing police protection to them,” the court noted.

Nevertheless, the court added that a representation had been submitted to the SP of Chitrakoot district and clarified that if any real threat is identified, the police will be duty-bound to act in accordance with the law.

The plea was ultimately dismissed on April 4.