Politics Must Be Used For "Positive Effect On People's Lives": High Court

The judge said this court was witnessing large scale exploitation of political power by certain politicians especially in land grabbing matters. This will pave the way for an unhealthy democracy.

The Madras high court has observed politics must be played for the betterment of the common man and the country, instead, playing with the people's lives for securing monetary and personal gains is not only misuse of power, but against the constitutional ideals.

Justice SM Subramaniam made the observations in a recent order on a contempt petition filed by R Girija, who approached the court after her tenant S Ramalingam, an office bearer of the ruling DMK, refused to vacate her house for more than ten years, despite court orders.

The judge said politicians play an influential role in the life of a common man. The words and actions of a politician have an impact on his followers, party men and the public at large. It was imperative that this power was not to be misused for illegal and personal gains.