$~66 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(CRL) 1005/2026 MRS. SARIKA & ANR. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Rajjesh K. Singh and Mr. Varun Thakur, Advocates versus THE STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Anand V. Khatri, ASC for the State with SI Rakesh Rana, P.S. Kanjhawala Mr. Akshay, Mr. Hrithik Shokeen and Mr. Mohit Shokeen, Advocates for R- 4, 5 and 6 CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA O R D E R % 27.04.2026 1. By way of the present writ petition, the petitioners seek issuance of direction to respondent no. 1/State to provide adequate protection to them from respondent nos.4 to 6 and their other relatives. 2. Issue notice. The learned ASC accepts notice on behalf of the State. 3. This Court has heard the learned counsel for the petitioners as well as the learned Additional Standing Counsel for State/respondent no. 1. 4. Facts of the case, as set out in the petition, are that the petitioner no. 1 and 2 belong to different castes, and having been in a consensual relationship, they intended to marry each other. However, the parents and This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 29/04/2026 at 14:55:17 family members of the petitioner no. 1 were not willing to accept the said relation. Owing to such opposition, the petitioner no. 1 left her parental house and thereafter, the petitioners solemnized their marriage on 17.03.2026 as per Hindu rites and ceremonies. It is stated that due to continuous harassment by respondent nos. 4 to 6 and their other relatives, the petitioners apprehend danger to their life, limb, dignity and property, at any point of time. 5. The petitioners are present before this Court in person who state that they are major and they have solemnized their marriage out of their own free will and consent. Further, petitioner no. 1 states that she is living peacefully with petitioner no. 2. 6. This Court notes that the petitioners have inter alia prayed for protection of their lives from respondent nos. 4 to 6 and their other relatives. The right to life and liberty is a cherished Fundamental Right guaranteed by the Constitution of India and the present case merits a careful indulgence of this Court in ensuring the same. 7. In the meantime, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent nos. 4 to 6 states that they have no objection to the inter-caste marriage and have not been harassing the petitioners. 8. Keeping in view the sensitivity of the present matter and submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioners, the petitioners are directed to provide their contact numbers to the concerned SHO and Beat Constable. The concerned officers are also directed to provide the contact numbers of Beat Constable and SHO concerned to the petitioners, and provide necessary assistance to them as per law, in case the need so arises. 9. In view of the above, the learned counsel for the petitioners state that This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 29/04/2026 at 14:55:17 he is satisfied with the above arrangement. 10. It is clarified that this order will not be considered as any reflection on the merit of any dispute, pending between the parties. 11. Accordingly, the present petition stands disposed of. 12. The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J APRIL 27, 2026/ns/AP This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 29/04/2026 at 14:55:17