Chennai
In a significant statement, the Madras High Court has strongly criticized the use of political power and influence to unlawfully acquire land from vulnerable individuals, likening it to blatant theft.
A bench presided over by Justice S.M. Subramaniam issued this remark during a recent hearing of a contempt petition filed by 65-year-old landowner R. Girija against S. Ramalingam, a ward secretary affiliated with the ruling DMK party.
The bench emphasized that the landowner and her spouse are elderly citizens who have endured considerable hardship. Under the Senior Citizen Act, it is incumbent upon both the state and the district collector to guarantee the safety and respect of senior citizens.
The accused party had refused to vacate the property owned by the landlady despite court orders. The court had directed the police department to enforce the eviction of the DMK leader within a 48-hour timeframe.
The landlady, who had rented out her property, informed the court that rent arrears remained unpaid, and the accused politician had avoided settling dues for five years through the exploitation of his political influence.
The protracted legal proceedings in rent control cases are being manipulated to evade eviction and the collection of unpaid rent. Even with the introduction of new regulations, there are efforts, often with the aid of legal experts, to prolong legal proceedings. The bench expressed its intent to counter such attempts.
The police had acted in accordance with court orders to evict the accused DMK leader from the property owned by the petitioner landlady.
