HC tells UT,Punjab and Haryana not to register abduction FIRs against runaway couples

Directed the police forces of Punjab,Haryana and Chandigarh not to harass couples who were in love or had got married,Justice Ranjit Singh remarked that even in cases where the girl is less than 18 years old,her marriage was not void but only voidable at the option of the girl. However,the court added that those who solemnise these marriages are guilty.

During the hearing,the amicus curiae disapproved the “nexus” between lawyers and priests who fleece innocent runaway couples for issuing marriage certificates so that they can seek police protection from court. Gupta also assailed the “standardised and stereotyped” pleadings in petitions filed by lawyers in such cases. Stating that “love marriages should be encouraged fully”,he argued that “restraint orders should be lifted from genuine marriage institutions”. He added that from the petitions filed,it can be said that there is not only “commercialisation in marriages” but a “market in marriages”.

Gupta also emphasised that the power to grant police protection should remain with the high court and not be delegated to lower courts.

Of the 35 cases filed by runaway couples from Chandigarh,Punjab and Haryana,21 were filed a day after the marriage was solemnised. While three were filed on the same day,five were filed two days after the weddings.

The case has been adjourned till four weeks.

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