Mitali Palnitkar
Published on: March 1, 2022 at 19:51 IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed Police protection to a couple who is in a live-in relationship.
The Court was dealing with a Petition filed by a couple who feared for their lives and liberty at hands of private Respondents. They approached the Court and sought protection.
Justice Anoop Chitkara granted prayer for their protection. He stated, “The times are changing fast, even in those lands that were left behind and stuck with the old ethos and conservative social milieu.”
He added that we are governed by the Rule of Law and we follow the Constitution. As the society evolves, Law evolves and we need to shift the perspective from didactics of the Orthodox society supported by religions to the one that values life of an individual.
He further stated that every person in India has an inherent and fundamental ‘Right to Life’ enshrined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and the State is bound by the duty to protect life.
The Court noted that if the couple’s apprehension of threat to life turns out be true then it may lead to an irreversible loss, and thus Police protection is granted for a week.
However, if the Petitioners (couple) do not require protection then it may be discontinued at their request even prior to the expiry of one week.
Thereafter, the protection shall be extended by the concerned Officers based upon the day-to-day analysis of the ground realities or upon oral/written request by the Petitioners.