On March 15, a judgment was passed by the Uttarakhand High Court directing the State Government to formulate such general instructions which enables live-in/married couples to directly approach the Senior Superintendent of Police on the issue of seeking protection.
“A direction is also being given to the State to 2 issue general instruction, whereby, the parties in such situation can directly approach the Senior Superintendent of Police and get protection.” (Para 5)
The said direction was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Pankaj Purohit. In the current case, the bench was dealing a couple who had approached the court with a protection plea. The couple/petitioners had urged judicial intervention and grant of protection to ensure that they are not be harmed by the families, who were in opposition to their relationship.
“The only grievance of the petitioners is that they should not be harmed by the families, who are opposing their relationship.” (Para 3)
The court granted protection to the couple keeping in view that both the boy and girl were major. The court also directed that the Senior Superintendent of Police, Haridwar to examine the content of the Writ Petition.
“Keeping in view that both boy and girl are major, the contents of this writ petition be examined by respondent no.2-Senior Superintendent of Police, Haridwar and if need be, protection can be given to the parties.” (Para 4)
Going a step further, the division bench then also ordered for the state government to bring in instructions enabling such couples to approach the police. With the aforesaid observation, the writ petition was disposed of.
The complete judgement can be read here:
Related:
Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code: A Majoritarian Code – Neither Uniform nor Civil
Destroying the basic standards of legislation- the Uttarakhand Model of UCC