115 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : 21.01.2026 Nitika and Another ....Petitioners VERSUS UT, Chandigarh and Others ....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANDEEP PANNU Present: Mr. Vikram Pundir, Advocate for Mr. Mohan Singh Rana, Advocate for the petitioners.

Mr. Samir Rathaur, Addl. Public Prosecutor, UT, Chandigarh for respondents no. 1 to 3 MANDEEP PANNU J. (Oral)

1. The present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed seeking issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the official respondents to protect the lives and liberty of the petitioners at the hands of private respondents, who are none other than the family members of the petitioners.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners seeks protection of life and liberty of the petitioners by contending that both of them having attained the age of majority and are living together in a ‘live-in relationship’ against the wishes of their respective family members and seek appropriate protection from the authorities. They have submitted a representation dated 15.01.2026 (Annexure P-3) in this regard to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Chandiga