IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Sr.No.140 CRWP-3148-2026 Decided on : 24.03.2026 Harpreet Kaur ...... Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ...... Respondents CORAM : HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL ***

Present : Mr. Armaan Gagneja, Advocate for the petitioner.

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RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL , J (ORAL)

1. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 528 of BNSS has been filed for seeking a direction to the official respondents No.2 and 3 to protect the life and liberty of the petitioner (being minor) from the hands of private respondents No.4 and 5 (arrayed in the petition).

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submit that the petitioner is 16 years old. Her date of birth 07.08.2009 (Annexure P-1). It is further submitted that the petitioner does not wish to marry especially when she has not attained the age of majority but the private respondents are putting pressure upon her to get her married with some old person. The petitioner has also placed on record a representation dated 13.03.2026 (Annexure P-3) to respondent No.2-The Senior Superintendent of Police, District Tarn Taran but till date no action thereon has been taken. It is further submitted that the petitioner would be satisfied if appropriate direction is given to respondent No.2 to consider and dispose of the aforesaid representation dated 13.03.2026 (Annexure P-3) in accordance with law in an expeditious manner.

3. Notice of motion to respondents No.1 to 3 only at this stage.

4. At the asking of the Court Mr. Ravinder Singh, DAG, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of respondents No.1 to 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to furnish a copy of complete paper book to the learned State counsel during the course of the day.

5. Heard.

6. 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 01 week and other directions were issued which read 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 t