The right to marry is fundamental and cannot be infringed by family opposition, affirming voluntary consent in marriage.

O R D E R

Dated this the 3^rd day of February, 2025 This Crl.MC is filed seeking to quash Annexure A4 FIR and further proceedings in Crime No. 72 of 2025 registered at the Poonthura Police Station. The essential facts are as under;

The petitioners, aged 22 and 20 years respectively, were in love and decided to get married. On 17.01.2025, 2^nd petitioner voluntarily went along with the 1^st petitioner. Thereafter, marriage of the petitioners was solemnised in accordance with the customs of Hindu religion. In the meanwhile, father of the 2^nd petitioner lodged a man missing complaint at the Poonthura Police Station. This led to the registration of Annexure A4 FIR under Section

57(1)(a) of the Kerala Police Act , 2011.

2. Learned Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the 2^nd petitioner is apprehensive that on production before the jurisdictional Magistrate, members of her family may forcibly take her away.

3. In view of the above submission, the petitioners were directed to appear in person. Accordingly, the petitioners appeared in person today. On interacting with the petitioners, I am convinced that the 2^nd petitioner had gone along with the 1^st petitioner on her own free will. It is also informed that a notice of intended marriage under the Special Marriage Act is filed before the jurisdictional Marriage Registration Officer.

Circumstances being as above, it is unnecessary to continue the investigation in the crime registered under Section 57 (1)(a) of the Kerala Police Act or to produce the 2^nd petitioner before the jurisdictional Magistrate Court. Hence, the Crl.MC is allowed and Annexure A4 FIR and further proceedings thereon, is quashed.

Sd/-

V.G.ARUN JUDGE ARK APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 713/2025 PETITIONER ANNEXURES ANNEXURE A1 A TRUE COPY OF THE SSLC CERTIFICATE OF THE

1ST PETITIONER, AS AN AGE PROOF ANNEXURE A2 A TRUE COPY OF THE SSLC CERTIFICATE OF THE

2ND PETITIONER, AS AN AGE PROOF ANNEXURE A3 A TRUE COPY OF THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE NO.

400633/CRCM01/GPO/2025/557 DATED 20.01.2025 ANNEXURE A4 A TRUE COPY OF THE FIR NO. 72/2025 DATED

17.01.2025 ON THE FILES OF POONTHURA POLICE STATION ANNEXURE A5 A TRUE COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT OF THE 2ND PETITIONER THAT SHE CAME WITH THE 1ST PETITIONER BY HER FREE WILL