111 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRWP-3744-2025 DECIDED ON: 29.04.2025 SUKHJEET SINGH AND ANOTHER .....PETITIONERS VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS .....RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP MOUDGIL Present: Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Jastej Singh, DAG Punjab SANDEEP MOUDGIL, J (ORAL) The jurisdiction of this Court has been invoked under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for directing the official respondents no. 1 to 3 to protect the life and liberty of the petitioners from the hands of respondent nos.4 to 6. Affidavit filed on behalf of Swapan Sharma, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, is taken on record. A perusal of the said status report would depict that the representation dated 09.04.2025 (Annexure P-5) was sent via email on 09.04.2025 was addressed to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Gurdaspur and pertains to some other persons not to the present petitioners. However after the intervention of this Court the necessary action was taken at the behest of police authorities, as has been corroborated in para 3 to 7, which reads as under:- “That after receiving the above-said order dated 17.04.2025, the deponent called for the complete record of the case and directed the MEENU 2025.04.29 19:40 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRWP-3744-2025 -2- Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, Police Commissionerate Ludhiana for necessary assistance, as the latter was appointed as the nodal officer for run-away couple cases vide order no 2236-86/Lit-cell dated 28-01-2025. As and when any representation is received from a runaway couple seeking protection, the same is forwarded to the In-charge PC, Branch and from where the same is forwarded to the various nodal officer(s). Once the nodal officer is in receipt of the representation, then he/she takes action on the representation. Thus, the present affidavit is being filed after the perusal of the complete record with the assistance of the said Nodal Officer. That the previous status report dated 17.04.2025 submitted by the deponent, may kindly be read as a part of this affidavit also, in regard to the facts of the present case. That it is humbly submitted that after getting knowledge of the present writ petition, ASI Gurdev Singh posted at Police Station Shimlapuri, on 15.04.2025 immediately rushed at the address of the petitioners and on reaching the house, it was found that the house was locked. Thereafter, the statement of their neighbor Manjinder Singh was got recorded who stated that the petitioners have gone out and have not come home since the last 1 week. That on 16.04.2025, the statement of the respondent No. 4 to 6 (family members of Petitioner No. 2 Puneet Kaur) was got recorded, wherein they stated that they do not have any objection to her married life and they will not interfere in her married life in the future. That further, the statement of both the petitioners was got recorded on 17.04.2025, wherein they stated that they do not have any threat from the Respondents now and also do not require any security. It was further stated that both the petitioners are living a happy married life, without any fear or threat from anyone. That thereafter, on the basis of the abovesaid statements, the Station House Officer, Police Station Shimlapuri, Ludhiana, submitted a report having No. 83/5-A dated 17.04.2025 before the Additional MEENU 2025.04.29 19:40 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRWP-3744-2025 -3- Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-2, Ludhiana. The 2025 said report was approved on 18.04.2025.” The Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, who is present in Court has also clarified that on account of delay in deciding the instant representation, the necessary action has been taken against SI Avneet Kaur and departmental inquiry has been intiated vide roder No.2157-62 PC dated 25.04.2025, as is evident from para 8 of the affidavit, which reads as under:- “That in regard to the delay in deciding the representation, it is humbly submitted that on 09.04.2025 i.e. the date when the e-mail was received in the office of the deponent, the e-mail alongwith the representation was perused by SI Avneet Kaur No 47/LRT, Incharge, PC Branch, Ludhiana. That on the perusal the said representation was found to be addressed to Senior Superintendent of Police, District Gurdaspur and was related to facts/circumstances different to that of the present case. That although the matter was related to different facts, it was incumbent upon SI Avneet kaur to take appropriate and necessary action pertaining to the present issue, which she failed to perform. Therefore, in view of the same a departmental inquiry has been initiated against SI Avneet Kaur No.47/LRT vide order No.2157- 62 PC dated 25.04.2025.” Be that as it may, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that there is a compromise effected between the petitioners and private respondents, who do not want to pursue with the instant petition and seeks withdrawal of the same. Prayer is accepted. The petition stands dismissed as withdrawn. (SANDEEP MOUDGIL) 29.04.2025 JUDGE Meenu Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No MEENU 2025.04.29 19:40 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document