Smt. Aparna Chaudhary & Anr. v. State Of U.P. And 3 Others

Petitioner :- Smt. Aparna Chaudhary And Another Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Rahul Singh Tomar Counsel for Respondent :- CSC Hon'ble Umesh Chandra Sharma,J. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners Sri Rahul Singh Tomar and Sri Amrish Kumar Tiwari, learned Chief Standing Counsel for the State- respondents. The petitioners have preferred this writ petition for a direction the respondents; not to interfere in their married life and also for protection of their lives and liberty. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that petitioners are Hindu by religion, they have solemnized their marriage, driven by love affairs, out of their own free will and choice on 12.10.2022 in Arya Samaj, Sanskar Mandir Trust, copies of marriage photographs are filed as Annexure-3 to the petition. Their marriage has also been registered under "Uttar Pradesh Marriages Registration Rules, 2017".

They have filed joint affidavit in support of their pleadings in writ petition. Date of birth of petitioner no. 1 is mentioned as 05.10.1998 in her CBSE, High School mark-sheet and that of petitioner no. 2 is mentioned as 08.12.1997 in his CBSE, High-School mark-sheet, thus both have attained the age of majority on the date of marriage. They started living as husband and wife peacefully but their marriage and relationship is strongly opposed by father and other family members of petitioner no. 1. They are threatening the petitioners constantly of dire consequences. Petitioner no. 1 moved an application before S.S.P., Meerut, through registered post for protection of herself and petitioner no. 2 from her family members but no action has been taken thereon. 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. 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.