120 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision :18.03.2026 Jxxxx through her next friend Gurmeet Singh ....Petitioner VERSUS State of Punjab and Others ....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANDEEP PANNU Present: Mr. Aazam Khan, Advocate for the petitioners -.-

MANDEEP PANNU J. (Oral)

1. The present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed seeking issuance of direction to the official respondents to protect the life and liberty of the petitioner(being minor, through her next friend Gurmeet Singh son of Gurmej Singh) at the hands of private respondents, who are none other than the family members of the petitioner.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is 16 years and 5 months old. It is further submitted that she used to meet Ramandeep Singh and they have decided to get married on attaining the age of majority. However, the private respondents came to know about them and are adamant to get her married against her will. Left with no other option, she fled away from her home and informed Ramandeep Singh about leaving her home. She, being minor, is filing the present petition through Gurmeet Singh, relative of Ramandeep Singh, for seeking protection of her life and liberty. She has submitted a representation dated 12.03.2026 (Annexure P-2) in this regard to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Batala, but is still apprehensive about her security in view of the apparent inaction and alleged clout of her family members-respondents.

3. Notice of motion.

4. On the asking of the Court, Mr. Kanav Singla, AAG, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the official respondents. A copy of the paper-book be handed over to him during the course of the day.

5. The Coordinate Bench of this Court, while examining the issue of protection to the minors in the case of P...... Minor Through Vikram v. State of Haryana and another (CRWP-2139-2022 (O&M), decided on 28.03.2022) and other connected matters, i.e. CRWP-2140-2022 (O&M) and CRWP-2250-2022 (O&M), had disposed of the matter by issuing directions to the Senior Superintendent of Police to depute a Child Welfare Police Officer to produce the minor before the Child Welfare Committee constituted under the Juvenile Justice Act within a period of one week. Relevant directions are extracted as under:-

"26. In view of the above, the petitions are partly allowed with directions as under:-

1. The minor in all these cases happen to fall within the definition of child in need of care and protection as provided under section 2(14)(vii) (xii) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The Senior Superintendent of Police/Superintendent of Police of the respective districts shall depute a Child Welfare Police Officer to produce the minor/child before the Committee constituted under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.

II. The respective Committee shall conduct enquiry contemplated under Section 36 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 and pass an appropriate order under section 37 of the said Act, by associating all the stakeholder, and to ensure that the objects of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 are well served.

III. The Child Welfare Committee shall take appropriate decisions with respect to the boarding and lodging of the minor and also to conduct enquiry on all issues relating to and affecting safety and well-being of the child/minor.

IV. During the pendency of such adjudication and passing of orders as contemplated under Section 37 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, the committee shall also take appropriate interim/decisions as regards placement of a child/custody of the child in need of care and protection.

V. The concerned SSPs/SPs shall also take appropriate steps as warranted by law against the threat perception to the minor as well as to their next friend, through whom the minors h