Shanti Kumari and Another v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Court No. - 50 Case :- WRIT - C No. - 29036 of 2023 Petitioner :- Shanti Kumari And Another Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Dinesh Kumar Yadav,Bhaiya Lal Yadav Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C. Hon'ble Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra,J. The petitioners have preferred this writ petition for a direction upon the respondents not to interfere in their married life and also for protection of their lives and liberty. The petitioners claim that they are major. Petitioner nos. 1 and 2 had solemnized their marriage on 9.8.2023 according to Hindu rites and rituals at Arya Samaj temple, Prayagraj for which a marriage certificate has been issued, copy thereof has been filed as annexure-3 to the petition. In support of their age, the petitioners have brought on record their Aadhar cards; wherein, the date of birth of the petitioner no. 2 is shown as 1.1.2001 and that of petitioner no. 1 as 1.1.2002. Thus, it appears from the record that both the petitioners are major. They have applied online to get their marriage registered before the marriage registration officer/Registrar, which is annexed as annexure-3 to the writ petition. The petitioner no. 1 is native of West Champaran, Bihar whereas petitioner no. 2 is native of district Kushinagar. Respondent no. 4 was averse to the marriage of the petitioners and intended to give her hand to some other person, however, till date no F.I.R. has been lodged against the petitioner no. 2. They have filed a joint affidavit in support of the contentions made in the writ petition. The petitioners have averred in the writ petition that they are living as wife and husband. It is stated that they have apprehension that private respondent can eliminate them for the honour of their family. In case this Court does not grant them protection, their lives may be endangered. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Standing Counsel for the State - respondents. Learned standing counsel submitted that as per instructions received in the matter, a compromise is reached between the petitioners and private respondents and the parents have decided to solemnize marriage of the petitioners as an arrange marriage. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that apart from the parents, family members are threatening the petitioners for life. In view of the order proposed to be passed, there is no need to issue notice to the private respondent. With the consent of learned counsel appearing for the parties, this writ petition is being disposed of finally at this stage in terms of the Rules of the Court. The Supreme Court in a long line of decisions has settled the law that where a boy and a girl are major and they are living with their free will, then, nobody, including their parents, has authority to interfere with their living together. Reference may be made to the judgements of the Supreme Court in the cases of Gian Devi v. The Superintendent, Nari Niketan, Delhi and others, (1976) 3 SCC 234; Lata Singh v. State of U.P. and another, (2006) 5 SCC 475; and Bhagwan Dass v. State (NCT of Delhi), (2011) 6 SCC 396, which have consistently been followed by the Supreme Court and this Court in Deepika and another v. State of U.P. and others, 2013 (9) ADJ 534. The Supreme Court in Gian Devi (supra) has held as under: "7. ... Whatever may be the date of birth of the petitioner, the fact remains that she is at present more than 18 years of age. As the petitioner is sui juris no fetters can be placed upon her choice of the person with whom she is to stay, nor can any restriction be imposed regarding the place where she should stay. The court or the relatives of the petitioner can also not substitute their opinion or preference for that of the petitioner in such a matter." Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the view that the petitioners are at liberty to live together and no person shall be permitted to interfere in their peaceful living. In case any disturbance is caused in the peaceful living of the petitioners, the petitioners shall approach the Superintendent of Police concerned, with a copy of this order, who shall provide immediate protection to the petitioners. A liberty is granted to the private respondent that if the documents brought on the record are fabricated or forged, it will be open for the respondent to file a recall application for recall of this order. The petitioners undertake to get their marriage registered under "Uttar Pradesh Marriages Registration Rules, 2017" within a period of two months. If the petitioners could not get their marriage registered within the stipulated period herein above, the protection granted under this order shall stand automatically vacated. It is made clear that this Court has not adjudicated upon the alleged marriage of the petitioners and this order, in no way, expresses opinion about the validity of their marriage. With the aforesaid observations, the writ petition is disposed of. Order Date :- 18.10.2023 Dhirendra/ High Court of Judicature at Allahabad