Maharashtra police force should be sensitized to protect couples in conflict with families: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday called for the sensitization of the entire police force across the State of Maharashtra to deal with couples in conflict with their family members..The High Court was hearing a plea by a lesbian couple seeking protection in the wake of a “missing girl” complaint filed by one of their parents, objecting to the relationship. The Court acknowledged that the police was required to deal with such cases with sensitivity and empathy towards the couple. .The State government had assured the Court on July 6 that it would give protection to the couple through a constable in plain clothes.However, on Wednesday, the petitioners' lawyer Advocate Vijay Hiremath informed the Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse that the police told the women that they were yet to receive the High Court order. .Hiremath asked the Court to consider passing draft guidelines in order to ensure that such issues do not arise in the future. The Court at this point said,“There has to be sensitization of the entire police force across the State.”.Reference was made to an identical case before the Madras High Court, which had asked the Tamil Nadu government to come up sensitization programmes across departments in the State.“There were guidelines issued by the Madras High Court after which the police conduct rules was amended. There are 17 follow up orders which were incorporated after the order issuing guidelines,” Justice Dere pointed out. She also highlighted that in order to carry out this programme, State departments will have to added as parties in order to widen the scope of the petition.The Court urged Hiremath to conduct research on what kind of amendments would be required to the rules concerning police conduct. “You see what rules are given by Madras High Court and see rules for Maharashtra Police. Then you see what needs to be done and then make submissions. The implementation can happen effectively if you incorporate the guidelines across the State. We want to look at the broader picture,” the Bench said in conclusion..The matter will be heard next on July 28. .The couple had approached the High Court after one of them had been compelled by her family to return home.The family had filed a missing person complaint and approached the Maharashtra Police, which informed the family about the women's whereabouts. .Hiremath submitted that the petitioners are consenting adults above 18 years of age and wished to live together. Their plea sought for a direction to the authorities to provide them appropriate protection to safeguard their life, liberty and dignity. Moreover, the plea sought that no coercive action be taken against the petitioners based on the missing person complaints.