The Allahabad High Court has observed that couples who marry against the wishes of their parents cannot claim police protection as a matter of right, unless there is a real threat to their life and liberty. The court said so while deciding an application filed by a couple seeking protection and said that security will be provided in a deserving case, but in the absence of any threat perception, such couples must “learn to support each other and face the society”.

Justice Saurabh Srivastava made the observations while hearing a writ petition filed by Shreya Kesarwani and her husband. The couple was seeking police protection and a direction for the private respondent not to interfere in their peaceful marital life.

After going through the averments made in the petition, the court disposed of it and noted that there was no serious threat perception to the petitioners

“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 court further noted.

What Court Said

“There is no requirement of passing any order for providing police protection to them in the light of judgment rendered by the Supreme Court in the case of Lata Singh Vs State of UP and another, wherein it has been held that the courts are not meant to provide protection to such youths who have simply fled to marry according to their own wishes.” ” pronounced the court.