The Kerala High Court recently granted police protection to an inter-faith couple who fled from Jharkhand to get married in Kerala. [Asha Verma & anr v. Director General of Police & ors].The couple had fled their home state due to threats from their families. Justice CS Dias, while granting the couple interim protection, said,"I am satisfied that the petitioners are entitled to an interim order and direct the 3rd respondent (SHO) to ensure adequate police protection to the life of the petitioners and to ensure that they are not repatriated to any other places during the pendency of the writ petition.".The petitioners, Asha Verma and Mohammad Ghalib, both from Ramgarh district in Jharkhand, belong to different religions and had been in a relationship for ten years. Facing persistent threats, including the risk of honour killing, they left Jharkhand and reached Kerala on February 9, 2025.The couple got married under Islamic rites in Kayamkulam, Alappuzha district on February 11.Asha's sister, accompanied by a police officer from Jharkhand, visited Kerala on February 14 and allegedly pressured her to claim that she was abducted by Ghalib. Asha, however, maintained that she had relocated and married voluntarily.Fearing further threats, she filed complaints before the authorities on February 21 and 22, seeking police protection. The Director General of Police later confirmed that her complaint was forwarded to the Petition Monitoring Cell for further action..The couple thereafter approached the Kerala High Court invoking their fundamental rights under Articles 19(1)(e) (right to reside and settle anywhere in India) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution of India. They argued that the threats from their families and possible police interference violated their constitutional rights.They sought the Court's intervention to direct the authorities to protect them, prevent their forced removal, and take legal action against those endangering their lives..The Court while granting interim relief took note of the fact that both the petitioners were staying separately for the meantime and orally stated, "Be there, if there is anything, report to the third respondent (Station House Officer).".The plea was moved by Advocates Sravan MS, Akhil Raj B, Srikanth Thamban, Arun Raj, Vishnu Vijayan, Ameesha George and Bensan Benny..[Read Order].[Read a live account of the hearing]
