High Court of Gujarat

PATEL HIRALBEN BHAVESHBHAIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal: 35-ANY OTHER MODE @ ADM.STAGE
Bench: M R MENGDEY

Holding

The Court directed the Visnagar City Police Inspector to decide the petitioners' application for protection within four weeks.

Summary

The petitioners, who married against their parents' wishes, feared harm from family members and applied to the Visnagar City Police Inspector for protection on 31.01.2026. No decision was taken by the police on the application. The petitioners sought judicial intervention through a Special Criminal Application for police protection. The Court observed the petitioners' apprehension and directed the police inspector to decide the application expeditiously, preferably within four weeks of the order. Accordingly, the Court ordered the police to dispose of the application within the stipulated period and disposed of the petition.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioners are entitled to a direction for police protection in the absence of a decision by the police on their application

Subjects

Police protectionSpecial Criminal ApplicationMarriage against parents' willApprehension of harmJudicial direction

Judgment

     R/SCR.A/2297/2026                               ORDER DATED: 17/02/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

        R/SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION (DIRECTION - POLICE
                   PROTECTION) NO. 2297 of 2026

==========================================================
                         PATEL HIRALBEN ASHOKBHAI & ANR.
                                      Versus
                             STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR KAMLESH S KOTAI(6150) for the Applicant(s) No. 1,2
MS VRUNDA SHAH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. R. MENGDEY

                                 Date : 17/02/2026

                                  ORAL ORDER

       Draft amendment granted. To be carried out forthwith.

1.     Learned advocate appearing for the petitioners submits
that the petitioners herein have performed marriage with each
other against the will of their respective parents and therefore,
the petitioners have the apprehension that they will be harmed
by their respective family members. Therefore, the petitioners
have submitted an application to the Police Inspector, Visnagar
City Police Station seeking police protection. The said application
has been submitted by the petitioners to the concerned police
authorities on 31.01.2026. However, no decision whatsoever has
been taken on the said application.

2.     Having regard to the same, the Police Inspector, Visnagar
City Police Station shall decide and dispose of the application
submitted by the petitioners on 31.01.2026 as expeditiously as
possible preferably within period of Four weeks from the date of
receipt of the present order.


                                     Page 1 of 2
          R/SCR.A/2297/2026                                                               ORDER DATED: 17/02/2026




   3.         With these observations, the present petition stands
   disposed of.



                                                                                               (M. R. MENGDEY,J)
   AHS

Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: AMIT SONAGARA(HCD0079), ENGLISH STENOGRAPHER GRADE TWO CLASS TWO, at High Court of Gujarat on 18/02/2026 15:04:33




                                                           Page 2 of 2

Search Indian case law

Ask in plain English, not just keywords. 25,000 AI words free, no card.

Try "Police protection"Sign in to search