Chandigarh, July 23 - The Punjab and Haryana High Court Thursday sought a response from the Haryana government and police, on a complaint by a family forced to leave their native village after pressure from a 'khap panchayat' (caste council) for 'flouting custom'.

Ravinder Singh Gehlout's family had to leave their native village Dharana in Jhajjar district of Haryana, Tuesday in the wake of mounting pressure of the council members. They approached the high court Wednesday, seeking police protection.

The Gehlouts were asked to leave Dharana village by Sunday morning after Ravinder married a 20-year-old girl from the Kadiyan clan around four months ago.

One of the khap councils, notorious for their vicious campaign against couples getting married within the same clan, had accused Ravinder of violating an age old custom according to which marriages between the Gehlouts and Kadiyans is a taboo as they have a 'brotherhood' akin to consanguinity.

'Justice K.C. Puri has issued notice to home secretary of Haryana government and senior police officials including DGP (director general of police), Haryana and IG (inspector general) Rohtak range. The next hearing is Aug 12,' Ravinder Singh Malik, counsel for the family, told IANS Thursday.