P&H: Minor Approached Court directs Child Welfare Committee to assess minor’s safety in protection plea

punjab-haryana
⚖️ Order Date: 14 Oct 2026
Headnotes

(i) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, Ss.36 and 37 — Minor seeking protection — Senior Superintendent of Police, Fazilka, directed to produce minor before Child Welfare Committee, which shall conduct an enquiry u/s.36 and pass an appropriate order u/s.37, while addressing...

(ii) De facto guardian — In absence of long-standing relationship through which minor approached Court, there was nothing on record to infer that adult petitioner could be termed de facto guardian. (Para 6)


Facts of the Case

P&H: Minor Approached Court directs Child Welfare Committee to assess minor’s safety in protection plea

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Fazilka Senior Superintendent of Police to produce a 17-year-old girl before the Child Welfare Committee after she and a 22-year-old man approached the Court seeking protection of their life and liberty. The petitioners said they intended to marry, but the girl was below the marriageable age under the Hindu Marriage Act.

The Court considered the matter in light of an earlier decision of a coordinate Bench concerning minors who approach the Court in similar circumstances. It said the petition could not be dealt with in the regular manner because a minor...

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