The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently took exception to a plea for protection filed by a divorced woman and a married man who were living together.

Justice Alok Jain said that the man's wife and children were “facing the brunt” of the petitioners' illicit and promiscuous relationship and dismissed the petition while also directing the two petitioners to pay ₹25,000 to the man’s wife.

“This petition has been filed only to cover up the illicit and promiscuous relationship of the petitioners by abusing and misusing the process of law,” Justice Jain said.

The 49-year-old divorced woman approached the Court with the plea along with her partner, a 33-year-old man who had a subsisting marriage with another woman.

The petitioners alleged that the man’s wife had visited their residence and created a “scene."

They added that the wife defamed her husband’s partner by leveling false and frivolous allegations in the presence of the general public. It was also submitted that threats were issued to the petitioners.  

However, after examining the petition, the Court opined that the submissions did not indicate that there was any threat to the couple's life and liberty. 

The Court concluded that there was no merit in the petition and dismissed it with costs of ₹25,000 to be paid to the man's wife.

The amount has to be paid within four weeks to the man’s wife who was asked to set up a fixed deposit in a nationalised bank in the name of their daughter.

Justice Jain had recently refused to grant police protection to another live-in couple after noting that one of the persons in the live-in relationship was married to another person.

Advocate Chanpreet Singh represented the petitioners in the present case. Deputy Advocate General PS Grewal represented the State

[Read Order]