Sr. No. 95 HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU Case: WP(C) No.1064/2026 Tabassum Choudhary alias Pooja Devi and another …Petitioner(s) Through: Mr. Tarun Sharma, Advocate VS. Union Territory of J&K and others ...Respondent(s) Through: Ms. Monika Kohli, Sr. AAG CORAM: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mohd. Yousuf Wani, Judge. ORDER 18.04.2026 01. Petitioners are present in person too. 02. Through the medium of the instant petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners have sought issuance of writs/directions in the nature of: (a) “Mandamus for commanding upon the official respondents 1 to 3 to provide adequate protection to them, who have solemnized marriage contrary to the wishes of private respondents 4 to 12 and also of their other relatives, who are extending open threats to them; (b) Mandamus for commanding the official respondents to ensure that no harassment is caused to them at the hands of private respondents and their other relatives; (c) Mandamus commanding the respondents 4 to 12 to allow the petitioners to lead their matrimonial life peacefully and without there being any interference of the respondents.” 03. It is the case of the petitioners that they being major have contracted marriage out of their own free will and choice on 16.04.2026 in accordance with the Law. That the family of the petitioner No.1 has always remained against the relationship of the petitioners even prior to their marriage as a result of which the 2 WP(C) 1064/2026 petitioner No.1 was subjected to great mental torture and agony. That petitioner No.1 chose to leave the parental home against the wishes of respondents 4 to 12 to live with the petitioner No.2 being her husband. That petitioners also apprehend that private respondents may lodge a false and frivolous complaint before the police concerned to get an FIR registered against the petitioner No.2. 04. The petitioners have placed on record the scanned copies of their School Certificates and Aadhaar Cards as also of the alleged “Marriage”. Perusal of the copies of the School Certificates and Aadhaar Cards reveals that the Date of Birth of the petitioner No.1-Tabassum Choudhary is 20th April, 2002, whileas that of petitioner No.2-Altaf Hussain is 03rd February, 1997. 05. The statements of the petitioners have been got recorded by the learned Registrar Judicial in attestation of their petition. 06. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioners that since the petitioners being major have contracted marriage out of their own free will and choice, as such the instant writ petition be disposed of at this threshold stage in view of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in case “Lata Singh vs. State of UP and ors (2006) 5 SCC 475”;and “Arumugam Servia v. State of Tamil Nadu (2011) 6 SCC 405” decided on 19th April 2011, by passing the appropriate directions upon the respondents to safeguard the life and liberty of the petitioners, to prevent any sort of undue harassment to them, and also interference with their matrimonial life. 07. In the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is of the opinion that the instant matter can be disposed of at this threshold stage by passing of appropriate orders in accordance with the law. 3 WP(C) 1064/2026 08. Accordingly, the instant petition is disposed of at this threshold stage with the following directions: i) The official respondents 1 to 3 shall ensure that no unjustified harassment is being caused to the petitioners and they shall be provided the protection as and when asked for the same; ii) The respondents 4 to 12 shall also desist from causing any illegal and unjustified harassment to the petitioners, so that their right to life and personal liberty is not interfered with. 09. However, in view of the ratio decidendi of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Doly Rani Vs. Manish Kumar Chanchal [2024 Live Law (SC) 334-2024 SCC Online SC 754] decided on 19.04.2024, this order shall not be construed as any opinion of this Court regarding the validity of the alleged marriage as per Personal Law guaranteeing the parties. 10. Disposed of along with connected CM. (Mohd. Yousuf Wani) Judge JAMMU: 18.04.2026 Shammi