Demanding money citing election expenses, grabbing land using name of political party a direct challenge to democracy: Madras High Court

People who misuse political clout to grab land or demand money citing election expenses, pose a direct challenge to democracy and such activities must be crushed with iron hands, the Madras High Court said on Friday (S Dhanasekharen v. The Commissioner of Police)..Justice N Anand Venkatesh remarked that there has been a spate of complaints against people who indulge in land grabbing invoking the name of a political party. .No one is above the law including political parties, the High Court emphasised while directing police protection for a landowner who had complained of harassment from political workmen. ."It is high time for the political bosses to take control of their cadres and stop them from involving in such activities of land grabbing, failing which, it will have a direct impact on the reputation of the political party. These attempts made to demand money in the name of election expenses and to grab the property by using the name of the political party must be crushed with iron hands. These activities are a direct challenge to democracy and rule of law. No one is above law and it includes even political parties," the Court observed..Political parties are supposed to work for the people's welfare and the name of a political party should not be misused for the purpose of land grabbing, the judge underscored. While so, the Court said that it was unfortunate that the police are also not in a position to react, fearing the consequences, when complaints are made against political persons who grab land..The petitioner before the Court had sought to carry out certain housing project related works on some land. The work had been stalled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. When it resumed in August 2020, the petitioner was met by certain persons who, the petitioner alleged, barged into the property demanding money. .The Court was told that these persons, who claimed to belong to a political party named Viduthalai Siruthaigal, had threatened the workmen at the site. Photographs were also presented showing that such persons had put up a shamiana at the property and were illegally occupying the property. ."This Court cannot turn a blind eye to such blatant illegal activities committed by certain persons claiming to belong to a particular political party," Justice Venkatesh said. .The Avadi Police was, therefore, directed to immediately provide the petitioner protection and to act against the land grabbers. The authorities should ensure that no one takes advantage of their status of being affiliated to a political party to grab the land, the Court said. .The petitioner was directed to make a fresh representation on the issue to the police authorities, with all relevant documents and a copy of the High Court's order.