Couple fined Rs 10,000 for not wearing masks during wedding ceremony

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 2

A couple seeking protection from the Punjab and Haryana High Court after tying the knot against family wishes will end up paying Rs 10,000 fine for not wearing masks during the wedding ceremony.

Referring to photographs attached with the protection petition, Justice Hari Pal Verma asserted the snapshots showed that the petitioners and others at the time of marriage ceremony were not wearing masks, necessary in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

“Accordingly, the petitioners are burdened with Rs 10,000 as costs to be deposited with the Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, within 15 days from today,” Justice Verma asserted.

Before parting with the case, Justice Verma added that the amount so deposited by the petitioners would be utilised for arranging masks for the public at large within Hoshiarpur district.

In their plea against the State of Punjab and other respondents, the petitioners had contended that they were major and had solemnised their marriage in accordance with law. But the respondent-relatives were not accepting their marriage. They were, rather, adamant to “separate them from each other by resorting to illegal means”.

Without going into the validity of their marriage, Justice Verma disposed of the petition with a direction to the Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police to take appropriate remedial measures on a representation submitted in the matter. “In the meantime, necessary order be passed to ensure that no harm is caused to the life and liberty of the petitioners at the hands of private respondents,” Justice Verma added.