JABALPUR, India, June 17 -- Madhya Pradesh High Court issued the following judgment/order on May 14:

1. The present Writ Petition has been preferred by the petitioners under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, invoking the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of this Court to seek a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to grant adequate, effective, and round-the-clock (24-hour) police protection, including specialized security during night hours.

2. The substantive relief sought by the petitioners is rooted in their apprehension of continuous threats to their life and liberty. They specifically seek the quashing or modification of the respondents' action dated 13.04.2026, whereby the armed gunman previously deputed for their security was removed and replaced by an unarmed Home Guard personnel. Furthermore, the petitioners seek directions for the authorities to conduct a fair and proper investigation into the continuous threats and suspicious activities reported by them and the police personnel stationed at their residence.

Facts of the Case

3. The factual matrix of the case reveals that the petitioners solemnized their marriage in the year 2019 in accordance with Hindu rites and rituals at the Arya Samaj Mandir, Surajmal Vihar, Delhi. Prior to the marriage, petitioner No. 1, who was originally a Muslim by religion, voluntarily adopted and converted to the Hindu religion out of her own free will and consent.

4. Out of the said wedlock, the petitioners have been blessed with two minor sons, namely Krishna (aged 5 years) and Rudra (aged 2 years). The Marriage Certificate issued by the Arya Samaj and the identity documents of the Petitioners, including their [Aadhaar Redacted], have been collectively filed as Annexure P/1.

5. The genesis of the dispute arose when petitioner No. 1 informed her parents regarding her marriage and religious conversion. Immediately thereafter, the petitioners began receiving severe threats to their life and safety from the family members of petitioner No. 1 and other individuals. This threat perception was also officially acknowledged in a communication dated 28.09.2021 by an Investigating Officer (Annexure P/2), who noted that Petitioner No. 2 faced threats from individuals of another religion due to solemnizing an inter-religious marriage.

6. The Petitioners shifted their residence to Ratlam in the year 2022. As the threats persisted, Petitioner No. 1 approached this Court by filing W.P. No. 20420/2022. Vide order dated 09.09.2022 (Annexure P/3), this Court directed the Superintendent of Police, Ratlam, to consider the Petitioners' representation and pass necessary orders for police protection in accordance with the law, following which protection was duly granted.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://mphc.gov.in/storage/upload/indore/MPHCIND/2026/WP/14252/WP_14252_2026_FinalOrder_14-05-2026.pdf)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.