MEENAKSHI I. MEHTA, J. (ORAL)

1. By way of the instant petition, the petitioner seeks the indulgence of this Court for the issuance of a direction to the official respondents to protect her life and liberty as she apprehends threat to the same at the hands of the private respondents No.4 to 8 who happen to be her father, mother, brother, brother's wife and husband respectively, while averring that she was married to respondent No.8 and three daughters have born out of this wedlock but respondent No.8 is a drug addict and he used to harass and maltreat her. Due to this reason, she left her matrimonial home along-with her daughters and started living at her parental home but after some time, she left that place also as respondents No.6 and 7 were not willing to keep her with them and presently, she is residing in a rented accommodation and the private respondents are pressurising her to join the company of respondent No.8. It has also been mentioned in this petition that a complaint/ representation (Annexure P-2) has already been moved to respondent No.2 in this regard.

2. Notice of motion to the official respondents No.1 to 3 only.

3. Ms. Samina Dhir, learned Deputy Advocate General, Punjab, who has joined the proceedings on behalf of respondents No.1 to 3 in this case in pursuance of the copies of this petition having been sent to the respondent-State in advance, accepts the notice on behalf of these respondents.

4. Heard.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner restricts his prayer to the issuance of a direction to respondent No.2 to take appropriate action on the said complaint/representation of the petitioner, i.e Annexure P-2.

6. Learned State counsel has no objection for the same.

7. Keeping in view the above-discussed limited prayer as made by learned counsel for the petitioner and without commenting or expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter in hand, respondent No.2-Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, is hereby directed to look into the said complaint/representation of the petitioner (Annexure P-2) and if it is found that the petitioner genuinely deserves any protection, then to take appropriate action in accordance with law.

8. It is further clarified that this order shall not be construed to be a shield to the petitioner against any proceedings already initiated or intended/contemplated to be initiated by the competent authority/person on account of the afore-discussed facts and circumstances and permissible under any relevant provisions of law.

9. This petition stands disposed of accordingly.