CHENNAI: The police have no role to play in disputes between landlords and tenants, the Madras High Court has held and advised the parties to approach the civil court instead.
Justice T S Sivagnanam gave the advise while disposing of a criminal original petition from Suresh praying for a direction to the inspector attached to Teynampet police station not to harass him on the basis of a complaint given by P Syed Omar Sajeeth, his house owner.
According to advocate S Namo Narayanan, there was a dispute between Suresh and the house owner with regard to the leasehold premises. The owner lodged a complaint with the Teynampet police for recovery of rent arrears from the tenant. And the police started harassing the petitioner, he added.
Justice Sivagnanam observed that if there is a landlord and tenant relationship, the police are not entitled to enquire into the matter.
It should advise both the parties to approach only the competent civil court or Rent Control Authority, he said.