Serial No. 175 Supplementary Causelist HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT SRINAGAR WP(C)/562/2026 RIZWANA AKHTER AND ANOTHER …Appellant(s)/Petitioner(s) Through: Mr. Wani Manzoor, Advocate Vs. UNION TERRITORY OF J AND K TH. S.S.P PULWAMA AND OTHERS ...Respondent(s) Through: Ms. Maha Majeed, Advocate CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE MOKSHA KHAJURIA KAZMI, JUDGE. ORDER 24.03.2026 1. Petitioners are stated to have solemnized marriage out of their volition against the wishes of their respective families, who are now bent upon to disturb their marital life. Apprehending arrest by the police concerned, at the instance of private respondent, the petitioners have approached this court to seek protection to their life and liberty in application of the ratio laid down by the Apex Court in case titled “Lata Singh v. State of U.P. (2006) 5 SCC 475, and Shakti Vahini v. Union of India and others AIR 2018 SC 1601”. 2. Notice. Notice waived by Ms. Maha Majeed on behalf of respondents. 3. Heard learned counsel for the parties. 4. The documents placed on record by the petitioners do disclose that they have attained the age of majority and have entered into a wedlock on 01.01.2026. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioners has placed on record the affidavit to the effect that the present marriage is the first marriage of the petitioners. 6. Having regard to the ratio laid down by the Apex court in the judgment supra, as also the averments taken in the memo of petition, the petition is allowed and the official respondents are directed not to interfere with the petitioners’ marital life. This order shall not, however, be construed as an acknowledgment of the validity of marriage of the petitioners and any dispute in respect thereof would be independent of the directions passed herein above. 7. Disposed of. (MOKSHA KHAJURIA KAZMI) JUDGE SRINAGAR: 24.03.2026 “Misba Sajad”