108 CRWP-8432-2025 (O&M) -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRWP-8432-2025 (O&M) Date of decision: 18.08.2025 SANDEEP SINGH AND ANR. ….Petitioners Versus STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS. ....Respondents CORAM:- HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL Present:- Mr. Surendra Pant, Advocate for the petitioner. ..… RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL, J. (ORAL) CRM-W-1154-2025 Keeping in view the averments made in the application, the document is taken on record as Annexure P-3A subject to all just exceptions. Exemption is granted as prayed for. 2. Registry to tag the same at appropriate place. 3. Disposed of. CRM-W-1108-2025 This is an application filed under Rule 3-A(i) Chapter 6 Part B, Vol. V of the High Court Rules and Orders for grant of leave to file the present petition. For the reasons mentioned in the application, same is allowed as prayed for. Main Case 1. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed for seeking a direction to the official respondents to protect the life and liberty of the petitioners (petitioner No.2 through her next friend Puneet Sharma 2025.08.21 18:48 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment 108 CRWP-8432-2025 (O&M) -2- petitioner No.1, being minor) from the hands of private respondents (arrayed in the petition). 2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submit that the petitioner No.2 is 17 ½ years old. The date of birth of the petitioner No.1 is 04.02.1995 and that of petitioner No.2 is 06.02.2008 (Annexure P-1 and P-2). It is further submitted that the private respondents are adamant to get her married against her will and illegally confined her in their house. Left with no other option she fled away from her parental home and joined the company of petitioner No.1. Now, private respondents are extending threats to the petitioners of dire consequences if petitioner No.2 does not marry with a boy of their own choice. The petitioners have also placed on record a representation dated 04.08.2025 (Annexure P-3A) to respondent No.2-The Senior Superintendent of Police, Gurdaspur but till date no action thereon has been taken. It is further submitted that the petitioners would be satisfied if appropriate direction is given to respondent No.2 to consider and dispose of the aforesaid representation dated 04.08.2025 (Annexure P-3A) 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 petitioners is directed to furnish a copy of complete paper book to the learned State counsel during the course of the day. 5. Heard. Puneet Sharma 2025.08.21 18:48 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment 108 CRWP-8432-2025 (O&M) -3- 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. Puneet Sharma 2025.08.21 18:48 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment 108 CRWP-8432-2025 (O&M) -4- 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 have approved this Court and to ensure that the respective petitioners are protected from any physical harm at the instance of the respondents in respective cases. VI. The petitioners are directed to appear in the office of SSP/SP of the respective Districts within a period of 03 days from today, failing which the concerned SSP/SP shall depute a Child Welfare Police Officer to produce the minor before the Child Welfare Committee within a period of 01 week thereafter. VII. The Child Welfare Committee constituted under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, shall send a compliance report to this Court." 7. In view of the above, the petition is disposed of in the same terms as the judgment dated 28.03.2022, rendered in the case of P...... Minor Through Vikram versus State of Haryana and another (supra). The petitioners are directed to appear before respondent No.2-Senior Superintendent of Police, Batala, District Gurdaspur within 10 days. Upon their appearance, respondent No.2-Senior Superintendent of Police, Batala, District Gurdaspur is directed to depute a Child Welfare Police Officer to produce the petitioner No.2 (minor) before the Committee constituted under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, within a week. The other directions issued in the case of P...... Minor Through Vikram versus State of Haryana and another (supra) shall also be applicable and complied with by all concerned. 8. The respondent No.2-Senior Superintendent of Police, Batala, District Gurdaspur is further directed to consider the representation qua the Puneet Sharma 2025.08.21 18:48 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment 108 CRWP-8432-2025 (O&M) -5- petitioners and will grant them necessary protection, if there is any threat to their life and liberty. 9. In case any criminal case is pending against petitioner(s), this order shall not be any hindrance for the Investigating Agency to proceed according to law. (RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL) 18.08.2025 JUDGE puneet i) Whether speaking/reasoned? Yes/No ii) Whether reportable? Yes/No Puneet Sharma 2025.08.21 18:48 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment