The Allahabad High Court has observed that couples who marry against their parents' wishes cannot claim police protection as a matter of right unless there is a real threat to their life and liberty.
It said the court can provide security to a couple in a deserving case but in the absence of any threat perception, such a couple must "learn to support each other and face the society".
Justice Saurabh Srivastava made this observation while deciding an application filed by Shreya Kesarwani and her husband seeking police protection and a direction for the private respondents not to interfere in their peaceful marital life.
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 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," the HC observed.
The Court disposed 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 find a real threat perception, he will do the needful in accordance with law," the HC said.
