Chennai : Madras High Court on Friday came heaviely on elected representative for being involved in illegal activities like Land Grabbing. Court said strict action should be taken on such elected representatives. Court also said such people are also threat to democracy.
The Court was hearing a petition, claiming that a Panchayat President and certain ward members had fraudulently took public money taken over on government poromboke land by taking disadvantage and using political and muscle powers. The petitioner claimed that he had raised these allegations in public interest to no avail as the authorities failed to respond.
“Such land grabbing is not only dangerous, but a threat to the democracy itself. This exactly is the reason why, the Constitutional Courts have repeatedly insisted that the candidates having serious criminal background, may not be allowed to contest in elections,” the Court said.
Justice SM Subramaniam commented on this power given to elected persons or authorities is like a sword. Such persons are expected to be mindful, dutiful and to act with utmost responsibility and accountability. “This Court is of the considered opinion that elected persons involving in land grabbing activities are far more serious than that of the land grabbers, who are ordinary citizen. Thus, such land grabbers, who have got political affinity, must be prosecuted without any leniency.
The order stated, When such powers are abused or misused, then they are acting against the will of the people and therefore, actions must be initiated without any lapse of time.
The Judge said that, unfortunately there are many allegations of land grabbing against political parties or persons in power. These are not traced by the authorities, but by people of the locality.
“Out of fear, many such instances are not brought to the notice of the Government. In these circumstances, even informations through anonymous letters are to be enquired into by the Government in order to cull out the truth. The mindset of ordinary citizen is to be considered in such circumstances. When the allegations of heinous offences including land grabbing is brought to the knowledge of the Government, the District Collectors in this regard is expected to play a serious role as they will be having first hand information from the local people,” the Court said.
The judge added that the few oficials of police, and revenue department or other departments actively or passively collude with land grabbers belonging to political parties. He emphasised that the majesty of the uniformed services (Police) should be maintained without compromised.
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