The Madras high court recently observed that politics must be played for the betterment of the common man and the nation.
Playing with people’s lives to secure monetary and personal gains is not only a misuse of power but also runs counter to constitutional ideals.
The observation was made by Justice S M Subramaniam while hearing a contempt petition filed by R Girija. The petitioner approached the court after her tenant, S Ramalingam, an office bearer of the ruling DMK, refused to vacate her house for over a decade, despite court orders.
Justice Subramaniam emphasized the influential role politicians play in the lives of common people. The words and actions of politicians have a significant impact on their followers, party members, and the general public. It is crucial that this power is not misused for illegal or personal gains.
The single bench stated, “Power-wielding politicians have an inherent responsibility to have a positive and healthy impact on people’s lives and guide them in the right path. However, what we often witness today is politicians using their political connections and power to threaten and create nuisance for the public. This court cannot remain passive while the common man faces such ordeals.”
It further expressed concern over the widespread exploitation of political power by certain politicians, especially in land grabbing cases. Such actions threaten the foundation of a healthy democracy.
Utilizing political power and influence to seize land from vulnerable common citizens is tantamount to daylight robbery. While a common man may appear powerless in society, every citizen’s rights are constitutionally protected in our Great Nation.
The judge firmly stated that the courts will not be bystanders, especially when a citizen’s right to lead a peaceful life under Article 21 is endangered.
Political power should be harnessed solely for the benefit of the public, not to their detriment. When politicians are entrusted with such power by the public, it must be used for socially beneficial causes, not for personal gain.
In a previous hearing, the Deputy Commissioner of Police [Administration], Greater Chennai Police, submitted a status report indicating compliance with the court’s order on the contempt petition dated September 1, 2023. The tenant has been evicted, and vacant possession has been returned to the landlady by the police authorities, a fact acknowledged by the petitioner’s counsel.
Upon learning that the arrears of rent for more than five years had yet to be settled by Ramalingam, the judge made the aforementioned observations.
The judge noted that it took 12 years for the elderly woman to secure the tenant’s eviction through the court with police assistance. Rent had not been paid for many years, and the petitioner’s husband was approximately 75 years old. Senior citizens in their old age require funds to cover medical expenses and lead a normal life.
Under the provisions of the Senior Citizen Act, the District Collector had a duty to protect the security and dignity of senior citizens within the district. Rules framed under the Senior Citizen Act outline the District Collector’s duties and responsibilities in this regard.
The judge pointed out that protracted court proceedings in rent control cases were being exploited by certain litigants to avoid eviction by landlords and to delay the recovery of rent arrears. Even under the new Rental Law enactment, some tenants were attempting to prolong legal proceedings with the assistance of legal experts and by taking advantage of frequent adjournments granted by Rent Controllers/Courts.
Such efforts needed to be thwarted, and it was the duty of the State and District Collector to ensure the security, dignity, and normal life of senior citizens. Substantial amounts of rental arrears were still pending in favor of the contempt petitioner by the tenant, and the judge directed Ramalingam to appear in person or through his counsel on September 11 before the court.
