"Shifted To Safe House": Delhi HC Disposes Of Protection Plea By LGBTQ Couple Facing Threat From Families

The Delhi High Court on Monday disposed of the protection plea filed by a LGBTQ couple facing threat from their families after taking note of the fact that the couple has been shifted to the safe house.

A single judge bench comprising of Justice Mukta Gupta however added:

"Once there is no threat perception, the petitioners be then shift to their own accomodation."

The development came after the Court had directed the police to provide adequate security to the couple and that the couple be shifted to a safe house, set up by the Delhi Government.

During the course of hearing today, Advocate Utkarsh Singh appearing on behalf of the petitioner couple submitted thus:

"Directions have been complied with. They have been shifted to the safe house."

Accordingly, the plea was withdrawn from the Court.

The Court had issued notice on a plea filed by NGO Dhanak of Humanity. The couple was residing in the NGO's office.

It was the case of the couple that despite being major persons, their relationship was not approved by their families due to the reason of them belonging to the LGBTQ community.

During the previous course of hearing, Advocate Singh appearing for the couple submitted before the Court that after facing threat from their family members, the couple had come to Delhi from Punjab in order to solemnize marriage.

Hearing the plea, the Court had directed the SHO of the concerned police station to ensure that the couple will be taken safely from the NGO's office to a safe house at Sewa Kutir Complex in Kingsway Camp area.

The aforesaid safe house is maintained by the Delhi Government for the safety of couples facing threat from their families as per the directions of the Supreme Court in Shakti Vahini case.

Justice Gupta passed an order earlier this year, granting protection to a lesbian woman who had been married to a man against her wishes and was threatened to be "cured" of her sexual orientation. "An adult woman cannot be forced to stay with her marital or parental family against her wishes," she had observed.

Title: DHANAK OF HUMANITY & ORS v. GNCTD & ORS.