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The Madhya Pradesh High Court, Indore bench on Monday directed a married couple seeking police protection that they may approach the Police Commissioner, Indore directly if they receive any threat or had fear for their lives from their parents or anyone in the future.

A single-judge bench of Justice Vivek Rusia ordered that in case, the Commissioner finds that there is a threat to the lives of the couple, he shall take action as per the directions given by the Apex Court in Shakti Vahini v. State of M.P. (2018) The Apex Court in this matter of ‘Khap Panchayat’ had taken the issue of “honor killing” very seriously and had issued certain preventive, remedial punitive measures to all the State governments.

“If petitioners are major and entered into the marriage voluntarily, then they should not be harassed by anyone," noted court.

“If the petitioners receive any threat or fear to their life from their parents or anyone, in future, they may approach the Police Commissioner, Indore with their documents relating to age proof and marriage and record their statement and also inform the name of the person who is threatening them,” held the high court.

Court added that “if the petitioners cannot approach the Police Commissioner, Indore due to some reason and in case of emergency then they are permitted to approach the nearest police station to record their statements.”

Court further added that “if the Police Commissioner/SHO finds that there is a threat to the life of the petitioners then he shall immediately take action by the direction given by the Apex Court in the aforementioned case of Shakti Vahini.

Accordingly, with the aforesaid directions, the bench disposed of the petition.

Case Title: Smt. Vinita Jain Verma & Anr, v. The State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.