Issue General Instruction Enabling Live-In/Married Couples To Directly Approach SSP To Get Protection: Uttarakhand HC To State Govt

The Uttarakhand High Court recently directed the State Government to come up with general instructions, whereby, live-in/married couples can directly approach the Senior Superintendent of Police and get protection.

A bench of Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Pankaj Purohit issued this direction to the state government while dealing with a protection plea filed by a couple. The couple/petitioners' grievance was that they should not be harmed by the families, who are opposing their relationship.

Keeping in view that both boy and girl are major, the division bench directed that the contents of this writ petition be examined by respondent no.2-Senior Superintendent of Police, Haridwar and if need be, protection can be given to the parties.

"A direction is also being given to the State to 2 issue general instruction, whereby, the parties in such situation can directly approach the Senior Superintendent of Police and get protection," a further direction was issued by the Court.

With the aforesaid observation, the writ petition was disposed of.

In related news, earlier this month, the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2024 was granted assent by President of India Droupadi Murmu. One of the most significant changes set out in the Act is mandatory registration of live-in relationships.

Unprecedented to Indian law, persons who are part of live-in relationships (being Uttarakhand residents) are now required to register before a Registrar within one month of "entering the relationship”. On failure to do so, a jail sentence, or fine, or both may be awarded.

Case title - Shubhi Sharma and another vs. State of Uttarakhand and others

Case citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Utt) 4

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