SC orders UP Police to protect inter-religion couple

The Supreme Court Monday directed Uttar Pradesh Police to provide protection to a young couple belonging to different religions and who married in Delhi recently.

The apex court bench of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan directed the police to provide security cover to the young couple from Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

The court allowed the couple to approach the Allahabad High Court to seek quashing of an FIR by the girl's father, Chhakku Khan, who sought her custody.

Pushpendra alias Chhotu and Sitara alias Chandini married in Delhi April 17, after the girl converted to Hinduism. Their marriage was solemnised by Arya Samaj Vaidik Mandal.

If Pushpendra alias Chhotu and Sitara alias Chandini or their counsel contact the concerned SHO for protection, it will be considered and adequate security will be provided, the court ordered.

The above protection will continue for three months from Monday, the court said in its order.

Before directing the police protection, the court declined the couple's plea urging the apex court to entertain their challenge to the Allahabad High Court order.

"You may have 100 percent foolproof case but you go to the high court. It is the question of jurisdiction," the court told counsel Savitri Pandey, who appeared for the couple.

Pushpendra and Sitara and the boy's family members had moved the high court for quashing the FIR by Sitara's father, who alleged his daughter was enticed by the boy and was in the custody of his family.

April 22, when matter came up for hearing, the boy's family were not present in court and on their instruction, their petition was withdrawn.

Three days later, they again moved the high court for quashing the FIR by Sitara's father. This time, the court declined to entertain the plea as non-maintainable as same plea cannot be raised twice before the court.

The apex court said Pushpendra and Sitara could move the high court for the recall of its order of April 22.

Granting three months' police protection to Pushpendra and Sitara, the court said for any further extension of protection, they could move the high court.

The court said Pushpendra and Sitara could move the high court for the recall of its April 22 order also within one week of it (high court) re-opening after the ongoing summer vacation.