***

JASGURPREET SINGH PURI, J. (ORAL) –

1. Petitioner No.2 (boy) is of the age of 19 years and 9 months whereas petitioner No.1 (girl) is of the age of 20 years and 6 months. It is averred that they intend to marry each other but since the petitioner No.2 - boy has not attained the marriageable age as per law, they are living in live-in-relationship and apprehending threat to their life and liberty, at the hands of private respondent Nos.4 to 6 who are family members of petitioner No.1 – girl, they have filed the present petition for protection. It is further averred that they belong to different religion and different background.

2. Petitioners claim to have submitted a representation (Annexure P-4) dated 22.7.2021, in this regard to the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Punjab.

3. Heard. Record perused.

4. Notice of motion to the office of Advocate General, Punjab.

5. Mr.Rana Harjasdeep Singh, DAG, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the State. Copy stands supplied.

6. The petitioners have placed on record the copies of their Aadhaar Cards and Pan Card (Annexures P-1 to P-3) as proof of their age.

7. This petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.3 – the Station House Officer – SHO, Police Station Division No.7, Ludhiana, Punjab, that representation, if any, filed seeking protection of life and liberty, be got looked into and contents thereof be duly verified and if necessary, requisite steps be taken, strictly in accordance with law for grant of protection of life and liberty to the petitioners. It is made clear that this order shall not be treated as a stamp of this Court regarding validity of marriage of the parties.

Order accordingly.

********