HC to runaway couples: Real and reel life different

HC to runaway couples: Real and reel life different

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:21.06.2020

The Punjab and Haryana high court has said young runaway couples, who fall in love, get married against the wishes of their families and relatives, and then get embroiled in legal cases have to understand the harsh reality of life and not just get inspired by Bollywood films such as ‘Bobby.’ “Adolescents take a liking for each other, resulting in affection beyond social limits. And next, starts their scheming for fairy tale dreamland. But, real life is different from reel life. When a happy ending is not in the script, the same very intimacy and affection then turns into hostility. It happens when either one partner tries to call it off or any set of parents disapprovingly press the button too hard... ,” observed Justice Arun Monga of the HC.

LOVE TURNS SOUR

Justice Monga observed that there are cases being filed daily in the court where youths either seek anticipatory bail or regular bail after their so-called love turns sour and culminates in allegations of rape. Many couples, still wearing their wedding attire, seek protection orders for the fear of being hounded by their families or ‘honour’ killings.

It’s time youth learn lesson: HC on runaway couples

Justice Monga observed that there are cases being filed daily in the court where youths either seek anticipatory bail or regular bail after their so-called love turns sour and culminates in allegations of rape. Many couples, still wearing their wedding attire, seek protection orders for the fear of being hounded by their families or ‘honour’ killings. “It is time that the youth learn their lesson from the harsh reality of life,” held the judge.

The high court made these observations while hearing a bail plea filed by Abhishek, a young boy from Haryana’s Yamunanagar district who was arrested for kidnapping on complaint by family of the girl who he had allegedly married after eloping.

The petitioner, 19 or 20 years old, had approached the HC seeking regular bail in an FIR registered on February 1, 2020 for kidnapping and related charges and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Yamunanagar.

His counsel contended that it was a case of teenage love not meeting approval of the parents of a 17-year-old girl. An FIR was registered against him at the instance of the girl’s parents and the petitioner was arrested and is confined in jail since February 16.

The counsel submitted that the complainant’s daughter was/is in love with the petitioner and this is borne out from her statement made before judicial magistrate, candidly confessing there was no pressure of any kind on her and she had got willingly married to the petitioner. The counsel pointed out that in her statement, the girl willingly declined to undergo medico-legal examination stating that nothing wrong was ever committed to her and whatever happened was with her consent.

After hearing the case, the HC observed that as per material placed on record, prima facie, it is a case of consensual love.

“But without commenting on the merits of the case, considering the fact that investigation is over and challan has been filed and trial is not likely to start or conclude anytime soon in view of current pandemic scenario, this court is of the opinion that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any further,” observed the HC while granting bail to the boy.