State Response to Run-away Marriages in Punjab

The innate right to marry is countered with violence and abuse under the guise of honour killings. It is the apprehension of honour killings as such which gives birth to rebellion marriages and elopements, which are legally reckoned as run-away marriages. The right to marry entails rights exerted by individuals irrespective of their gender where they possess equal freedom and liberty to select their spouse. Against this backdrop, the present research paper aims to detail the mechanism and procedure in place to enforce protection for couples in run-away marriages who invoked the fundamental right to life enshrined under Article 21 in the Constitution of India, exploring the same in the State of Punjab. At the outset the paper seeks to examine the implementation and institutional response and role played by the Punjab Police as an Executive agency. The Police is the first protective agency and the final executing authority rendering and assuring protection to couples in run-away marriages. Hence, the conduct of the police and their responses as a law enforcement agency with reference to protection to run-away couples has been examined herein.