Punjab and Haryana High Court Imposes Cost Of 10,000 On A Couple For Not Wearing Mask During Wedding Ceremony[Read Order]

Justice Hari Pal Verma of the Punjab & Haryana HC further directed for the money deposited to be utilized for the purpose of arranging masks for the public at large within the Hoshiarpur district.

A writ petition had been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for issuance of appropriate directions to the State to provide protection to the couple from parties who were opposed to the marriage and were resorting to illegal means to separate the couple from each other.

The Counsel for the Petitioners had submitted that there was imminent danger to the life and liberty of the Petitioners and, a representation had also been moved to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Gurdaspur.

Justice Verma, without going into the validity of the marriage, disposed of the petition with a direction to the SSP, Gurdaspur, to take appropriate remedial measures on the representation.

However, while perusing the photographs of the marriage ceremony, the Learned Single Judge noted that the Petitioners and other attending persons were not wearing masks, which were a necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In light of the above observation, Justice Verma imposed costs of Rs. 10,000 on the Petitioners, which is to be deposited with the Deputy Commissioner of Hoshiarpur within a period of 15 days. Moreover, the amount is to be utilized for the arrangement of masks for the public in the district of Hoshiarpur.

Click here to download the Order