The Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that petitions filed by couples seeking protection after inter-caste or love marriages are consuming about four hours of court time every day. To address this issue, the court has directed the states of Haryana, Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to take specific steps to streamline such cases. The High Court has issued clear instructions to local police stations and district-level officials to handle these cases more efficiently. The aim is to prevent courts from being burdened with matters that could be resolved at the administrative level.
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CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed that petitions filed by couples seeking protection after inter-caste or love marriages are consuming about four hours of court time every day.
To address this issue, the court has directed the states of Haryana, Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to take specific steps to streamline such cases.
The High Court has issued clear instructions to local police stations and district-level officials to handle these cases more efficiently. The aim is to prevent courts from being burdened with matters that could be resolved at the administrative level.
In its directive, the court emphasized,
“Every police station must set up a specific system to address such petitions.”
This system will allow couples who are facing threats from family or relatives to directly approach their local authorities for timely resolution. This step is expected to ease the load on courts while ensuring the safety of couples.
According to the High Court, 90% of such cases fall under the routine category, where couples fear retaliation after their marriage. It was noted that these cases can often be resolved by local authorities without the need for judicial intervention. The court has instructed the local police to appoint nodal officers who will handle these complaints promptly and fairly.
“We will no longer entertain frivolous petitions. Only serious matters will reach the court,”
-the court asserted.
While routine cases will be resolved at the district level, the High Court clarified that only serious and exceptional matters will be allowed to escalate to the judiciary. In such cases, the court will continue to ensure justice is served.
The court added,
“In serious cases where there is a genuine risk to life or liberty, petitions can still be filed with the High Court.”
To ensure faster resolutions, the High Court has mandated that local authorities address these matters within 72 hours (three days). If the district officers fail to resolve the issue within this timeframe, couples can escalate their concerns.
The High Court has instructed the governments of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to establish proper mechanisms for implementing these directions.
“All officers must comply with these orders strictly, and ensure grievances are resolved efficiently,”
-the High Court added.
The new system is expected to significantly reduce delays and bring relief to couples seeking justice.
The court further observed that these measures would save valuable time and resources, allowing the judiciary to focus on more pressing matters.
“Around 30 petitions a day related to love marriages are wasting almost four hours of the court’s time daily. This practice needs to stop,”
-remarked the High Court.
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