Learn to face society: Allahabad High Court refuses protection for runaway couple in absence of threats

The Allahabad High Court recently observed that couples who marry against their parents' wishes cannot demand police protection as a matter of right unless there is a genuine threat to their life and liberty..A Bench of Justice Saurabh Srivastava explained that courts and the police will come to the rescue of runaway couples if someone misbehaves with them or if there is a genuine threat to their lives. However, such protection cannot be demanded as a matter of routine without there being any real threat, the Court held. The Court made the observation while refusing to order police protection for a runaway couple who sought directions so that no one interfered with their marital life. The Court advised them to learn to face society and support each other instead. "In a deserving case, the Court can provide security to the couple, but cannot lend them the support they have sought. They have to learn to support each other and face the society," the April 4 ruling said. .After referring to the Supreme Court judgment in Lata Singh Vs. State of U.P. & Anr., the High Court added,"Courts are not meant to provide protection to such youths, who have simply fled to marry according to their own wishes.".In the present case, the Court found that there was nothing to indicate that the couple before it was facing any significant threat on account of their relationship. "There is no material or reason for this Court to conclude that the petitioners' life and liberty are at peril. There is not even an iota of evidence to evince that private respondents (relatives of either of the petitioners) are likely to cause physical or mental assault to the petitioners," it observed. The Court proceeded to dispose of the couple's petition after asking the police to examine the representation submitted to them by the couple. "Needless to observe that petitioners have already moved a representation before the Superintendent of Police, Chitrakoot and in case the concerned police finds a real threat perception, he will do the needful in accordance with law," the Court said..Advocates Basdeo Nishad and Rama Pati Nishad appeared for the petitioners..[Read Order]