The court has the authority to direct law enforcement agencies to provide necessary protection to individuals facing threats to their lives and liberty.

JUDGMENT

Manoj Kumar Tiwari, J. - In this petition, the petitioners have prayed for the following reliefs: -

'(a) Issue a writ order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent No. 1 & 2 to provide adequate protection to the petitioners from respondent No. 3, so that they may live peaceful life.

(b) Issue a suitable writ, order or direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present case.

(c) Award the cost of the petition to the petitioners.'

2. In the present case, both the petitioners belong to the same faith and are major. Both the petitioners were in love and they wanted to marry each other. So they have solemnized their marriage on 18.09.2022 as per Hindu customs at Tanda Mazra, Budhana, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, and on 10.10.2022, they got the same registered in the Office of the Sub-Registrar / Registrar of Hindu Marriages, Budhana (Muzaffarnagar), Uttar Pradesh (Copy of the marriage certificate is annexed as Annexure No. 3 to the writ petition).

3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners have already made a representation on 03.01.2023 before the Senior Superintendent of Police, District Haridwar- respondent no. 1 for protecting their lives, a copy whereof is annexed as Annexure No. 4 to this Writ Petition, but nothing has been done as yet. Having been left with no other remedy, the petitioners have filed the present Writ Petition.

4. In that view of the matter, we hereby dispose of the writ petition by directing the Senior Superintendent of Police, District Haridwar- respondent no. 1 to take a decision on the representation of the petitioners (Annexure No. 4) within 30 days from today. The Senior Superintendent of Police, District Haridwar shall take information and intelligence from the concerned SHO during the course of action whether further police protection is required or not. In the interregnum, the SHO, Police Station Laksar, District Haridwar-respondent no. 2 shall provide necessary police protection for protecting the lives and liberty of the petitioners.

5. Consequently, pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.

6. Let a free copy of this order be immediately handed over to Mr. R.K. Joshi, learned Brief Holder for the State of Uttarakhand, for early compliance.

7. Urgent copy of this order be supplied to the learned counsel for the parties during the course of the day, as per Rules.