Justice Saurabh Srivastava emphasized that unless a genuine threat exists, couples must navigate societal challenges independently. The court clarified that protection would be provided if a legitimate threat arises, but in this case, no such evidence was presented.

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court has ruled that couples who marry against the wishes of their parents cannot demand police protection as a matter of right, unless there is a real threat to their life and liberty.
Such couples must “learn to support each other and face society”, Justice Saurabh Srivastava said, while rejecting a plea by one Shreya Kesarwani and her husband seeking police protection and a direction to their families not to interfere in their peaceful marital life.
The HC, however, clarified in its April 4 order that the court and police would protect runaway couples in case they indeed faced a genuine threat, or any person misbehaved with them or manhandled them.
The bench stated that in the present case, there was no serious threat to the petitioners’ lives. “There is not even an iota of evidence to indicate that private respondents (relatives of the couple) are likely to cause physical or mental assault to the petitioners,” it said. The couple had not submitted any complaint to police regarding any threat or illegal conduct by their families, the court noted.Referring to a Supreme Court judgment, the HC said, “Courts are not meant to provide protection to such youths who have simply fled to marry according to their own wishes.”
“In case police find a real threat perception, they will do the needful in accordance with law,” Justice Saurabh Srivastava said, noting that the petitioners had already submitted a representation (regarding police protection) to Chitrakoot SP.

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