Observing that "hate politics" is prevalent throughout India and Tamil Nadu is not an exception, the Madras High Court today dismissed a petition against DMK treasurer M K Stalin alleging that he had violated the Model Code of Conduct while campaigning in last parliamentary polls.
Dismissing the petition filed by K G Uthayakumar, AIADMK Secretary, seeking to direct police officials to register an FIR based on a complaint given by him alleging Stalin and DMK workers had stayed in a PWD inspection bunglow at Kuzhithurai violating the poll code during the campaign, Justice N Kiribakaran said "it is a clear hate politics and is not only inter-party but also intra-party phenomenon."
"This petition is nothing but a facet of hate politics. However, it does not mean that the stay of a leader for 20 minutes in an PWD inspection bungalow for rest can be termed as a violation, unless there was a public meeting or bunglow was used as election office. The petitioner should have verified the purpose of stay and thereafter should have filed complaints."
"This court is of the opinion that this petition has been filed only to claim publicity and to seek attention and recognition from top leaders. This kind of trend nowadays is common. This is not good for healthy politics".
The petitioner submitted that Stalin and others, in violation of the Model Code of Conduct, stayed in the PWD building at Kuzhithurai for 20 minutees on March 14, 2014.
He said though he made a representation to the Inspector of Police Kaliayakkavalai Police Station on the same day about it, no action was taken.
The Judge, after perusing various sections of the Model Code of Conduct, said in his order that the alleged violation would not come under any of the offences and observed that the complaint of this kind is a consequence of hate politics.
"It would be anybody's guess as to what a person could do in 20 minutes time. It is not the case of the petitioner that during the stay, the proposed accused met the party workers or held a meeting. When such is the position, the complaint of the petitioner about violation of Model Code of Conduct is misconceived."
"A political leader who on the election campaign for attending nature's call or taking rest would have entered the building that too for 20 minutes. The said act cannot be termed as a violation, the judge said.
