Bombay HC Orders Protection To Law Student Who Alleged Threat To Life From Parents For Relationship With Scheduled Caste Boy

A 19-year-old law student filed a petition before the Bombay High Court seeking protection from her father and uncle who threatened to kill her and her boyfriend, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste category.

The vacation bench of Justice MS Karnik and Justice RI Chagla directed the Talegaon MIDC police, Pune to look into the girl's complaint and ensure her safety.

What Does the Petition Say?

Petitioner belongs to the upper caste Maratha community whereas the boy, who is also 19, belongs to the Matang caste which comes under the SC category. The couple met in college and fell in love and decided to marry each other after attaining legally marriageable age.

However, petitioner's parents did not approve of her relationship with a lower caste boy. Therefore, they threatened the petitioner that if she dares to meet him then they will kill both of them, petition states.

According to the petition, parents of the petitioner 'tortured' her mentally which was not bearable to the petitioner therefore she decided to end her life by committing suicide on February 26, 2019 by consuming a large quantity of medicines and thereafter she was admitted in hospital. There, the doctor referred petitioner's case as a medico-legal case to Talegaon Police Station. Concerned police officer recorded the statement at the behest of petitioner's parents to protect and shield themselves form any legal action by the Police for abetment of Suicide; she was discharged from the hospital on March 2, 2019.

Then, the petitioner's uncle, who is an advocate, was informed about the whole situation by petitioner's parents. Apparently, her uncle got infuriated at the petitioner and threatened her by brandishing a Hand-Made (Katta) illegal fire arm . He allegedly threatened to kill her "if she failed to break all the relation with the lower caste Maang (Matang) boy".

Thereafter, the petitioner was restrained by her parents to continue from studying law. On April 27, when her parents tried to forcibly take her to Tamil Nadu, she ran away and contacted her boy friend. Petition states that the petitioner has no faith left in the police machinery.

The petitioner has sought action against her father and uncle. She seeks protection of her Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21 of the constitution. She further seeks police protection for her boy friend and his family.