Hindi English Translation || Editorial || A quiet reprieve: On former Indian naval personnel and the Qatar court’s verdict

A quiet reprieve: On former Indian naval personnel and the Qatar court’s verdict

India did well to work its channels with Qatar away from the limelight

The decision of the Qatari court of appeals to reduce the capital punishment (मृत्यु दंड) handed down in October to eight former Indian naval personnel (forces, crew, employees, workforce, staff) is a major reprieve for the men and their families, and spells (cause, lead to, result in, bring about, point to; signify, signal, augur, herald, promise) relief for the government that has been pursuing diplomatic (राजनयिक, कूटनीतिक) channels for leniency (उदारता). While the detailed judgment is still awaited (इंतजार) more than 24 hours after the pronouncement (judgement, decree, adjudication, formal statement, declaration), the upholding (कायम रखना) of the conviction is a disappointment, and the government and the men’s families must now reassess (पुनर्मूल्यांकन) their legal strategy (रणनीति) and evidence of their innocence (बेगुनाही) before filing a review petition (a petition applied by an aggrieved person to the court to review the order/judgment given by the same court) with Qatar’s Court of Cassation (the highest court in the Qatari judicial system. It is responsible for deciding on the appeals filed against the judgment issued from the Court of Appeal), the highest in the system. If all avenues (method, way) of judicial appeal (निवेदन) are exhausted (use up, utilize, absorb, deplete, finish, drain, consume, go through), the government will have three options. First, to continue to press (urge, push, insist on, prevail on) for a review of the conviction (sentence, judgement, verdict) with Qatar’s ruling Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. If that fails, the men could appeal for clemency (mercy, leniency, forgiveness/forbearance) and ask for a pardon (क्षमा), that Qatar’s rulers have given in the past. A third option would be for the men to serve (spend (a period)in prison) out their terms (अवधि) in India, once the length (period, duration, term) of incarceration (कैद, कारावास) is clarified, according to a 2015 bilateral (द्विपक्षीय) Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons. However, this option would require them to accept the conviction cannot be reversed (cancel, quash, rescind, overrule, repeal, annul, nullify, negate, disallow, invalidate, abolish). Through this process, the government must be seen to be pursuing diplomatic and political efforts at the highest level, to convey the extent that the men are a priority for India.

It is significant that the development (विकास) comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first public outreach (the level of reaching out/activity/effort; involvement) to the Qatari leadership — he met the Emir on the sidelines of (it refers to a meeting/forum occurs at the same time as the scheduled meeting/forum, but is not itself an item on the agenda) COP28 (The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCC convened from 30 November to 12 December 2023. It has taken place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)), on December 1. Whether such a political outreach, or a high-level mission (delegation, commission, task force) to Doha, would have been more productive (उत्पादक) earlier, after the men were first arrested in August 2022, is a moot point (an issue or dispute that remains unsettled or open to debate) now. It is commendable (praiseworthy, laudable, applaudable, admirable, impressive, excellent) that New Delhi, in contrast to (in opposition to) its stand (stance, standpoint, point of view, position, posture, approach, perspective, opinion) with Canada over its allegations (charge, accusation, indictment), has chosen not to react to the case with public rhetoric (bombast, loftiness, hyperbole/extravagant language), especially the kind of targeting of Doha seen in some sections of the media, a move that would have been counterproductive (harmful, damaging, dangerous/destructive). If the case implicating (accuse, frame, blame, involve) the men is in any way (under any circumstances/conditions) connected to India’s intelligence ((military/political) information, facts, details, particulars) services, then it is important to consider an appropriate review of any operations (action/activity) that could jeopardise (imperil, threaten, put at risk, put in danger, endanger) Indians overseas (in a foreign country). New Delhi has also done well by not allowing the case to become hostage (a person captured or held as security for the fulfilment of certain conditions/terms; security, surety) to the growing tensions (strained relations, strain, unease) in the region, over the continuing bombardment (bombing, shelling (continuous attack)) of Gaza by Israel. It is hoped that a consistently (invariably, constantly, regularly) calibrated (carefully assessed/analysed) position, careful of Qatar’s sensitivities (responsiveness, diplomacy, delicacy, finer feelings, reactivity, susceptibility, perception), and coupled with a quiet, but determined (resolute, firm, dedicated, committed, insistent, steadfast, relentless) push (a spirited/determined effort to do something), would bring the eight Indians back home (in/to one’s (own)country) safely.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.capital punishment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मृत्यु दंड
English Meaning - death penalty, execution, killing (by hanging) as a punishment.

2.diplomatic (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - राजनयिक, कूटनीतिक
English Meaning - tactful, sensitive, subtle, delicate; consular, foreign-policy.

3.leniency (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उदारता
English Meaning - mercy, clemency, forgiveness/forbearance, soft-heartedness.

4.await (verb)

Hindi Meaning - इंतजार
English Meaning - wait for.

5.uphold (verb)

Hindi Meaning - कायम रखना
English Meaning - confirm, stand by, justify, endorse/approve, vindicate/validate.

6.reassess (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पुनर्मूल्यांकन
English Meaning - reevaluate, reappraise, reexamine

7.strategy (noun)

Hindi Meaning - रणनीति
English Meaning - plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests).

8.innocence (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बेगुनाही
English Meaning - the condition of being innocent of a crime; clean hands, freedom from guilt.

9.appeal (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निवेदन
English Meaning - plea, request, petition, entreaty, application.

10.pardon (noun)

Hindi Meaning - क्षमा
English Meaning - it means completely absolving the person of the crime and letting him go free; reprieve, acquittal/discharge, exoneration, general pardon.

11.term (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अवधि
English Meaning - period, period of time, duration, length of time, spell, stretch.

12.incarceration (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कैद, कारावास
English Meaning - confinement, custody, detention, restraint, arrest, imprisonment.

13.bilateral (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - द्विपक्षीय
English Meaning - involving two groups or countries.

14.development (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विकास
English Meaning - progress, progression, advancement, improvement, growth.

15.productive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - उत्पादक
English Meaning - successful, effectual, efficacious, effective, constructive.

16.reprieve (noun)

English Meaning - cancellation, suspension, postponement (of a punishment or something undesirable event); stay of execution.

17.personnel (noun)

English Meaning - forces, crew, employees, workforce, staff.

18.channel (noun)

English Meaning - means of communication, medium, vehicle, approach, instrument, mechanism, apparatus.

19.limelight (noun)

English Meaning - the focus of attention, public attention, public notice.

20.court of appeals or appellate court (adjective)

English Meaning - a higher court that is dealing with cases on appeal to review the decision of a lower court or a trial court.

21.pronouncement (noun)

English Meaning - judgement, decree, adjudication, formal statement, declaration.

22.the upholding (verb)

English Meaning - confirmation, justification, endorsement, approval, vindication, validation.

23.hand down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - give, declare, announce (a verdict/judgement).

24.spell (verb)

English Meaning - cause, lead to, result in, bring about, point to; signify, signal, augur, herald, promise.

25.pursue (verb)

English Meaning - engage in, conduct, take part in (an activity).

26.conviction (noun)

English Meaning - sentence, judgement, verdict.

27.review petition (noun)

English Meaning - a petition applied by an aggrieved person to the court to review the order/judgment given by the same court.

28.mercy petition (noun)

English Meaning - a written petition by the convict to the President to grant pardon or show mercy to the death sentence given by the apex court.

29.curative petition (noun)

English Meaning - a petition by a person whose review petition has been dismissed by the Supreme Court and it is the last constitutional remedy available to that person.

30.writ petition (noun)

English Meaning - an application to a court for a writ (a formal written order) when when any of the fundamental rights are violated.

31.Court of Cassation (noun)

English Meaning - the highest court in the Qatari judicial system. It is responsible for deciding on the appeals filed against the judgment issued from the Court of Appeal.

32.avenue (noun)

English Meaning - method, way.

33.exhaust (verb)

English Meaning - use up, utilize, absorb, deplete, finish, drain, consume, go through.

34.press (verb)

English Meaning - urge, push, insist on, prevail on.

35.clemency (noun)

English Meaning - mercy, leniency, forgiveness/forbearance.

36.ask for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - try to obtain (by requesting); request, appeal for, seek.

37.serve (verb)

English Meaning - spend (a period)in prison.

38.length (noun)

English Meaning - period, duration, term.

39.Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons to India (noun)

English Meaning - India has entered into prisoner transfer treaties with many nations that allow a person convicted of a crime to be transferred to his or her home country to serve the prison sentence. A prisoner who wants to be transferred should notify the Indian embassy or consulate of his or her desire. The application then must be approved by the foreign country and the Government of India. For the prisoner to serve the rest of his/her sentence in India, there must not be a standing appeal against his committal to prison in the foreign country.

40.reverse (verb)

English Meaning - cancel, quash, rescind, overrule, repeal, annul, nullify, negate, disallow, invalidate, abolish.

41.extent (noun)

English Meaning - level, range, degree.

42.outreach (noun)

English Meaning - the level of reaching out/activity/effort; involvement.

43.on the sidelines of (phrase)

English Meaning - it refers to a meeting/forum occurs at the same time as the scheduled meeting/forum, but is not itself an item on the agenda.

44.COP28 (noun)

English Meaning - The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCC convened from 30 November to 12 December 2023. It has taken place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

45.mission (noun)

English Meaning - delegation, commission, task force.

46.moot point (noun)

English Meaning - an issue or dispute that remains unsettled or open to debate.

47.commendable (adjective)

English Meaning - praiseworthy, laudable, applaudable, admirable, impressive, excellent.

48.in contrast to (phrase)

English Meaning - in opposition to.

49.stand (noun)

English Meaning - stance, standpoint, point of view, position, posture, approach, perspective, opinion.

50.allegation (noun)

English Meaning - charge, accusation, indictment.

51.rhetoric (noun)

English Meaning - bombast, loftiness, hyperbole/extravagant language.

52.move (noun)

English Meaning - action, act, step, measure.

53.counterproductive (adjective)

English Meaning - harmful, damaging, dangerous/destructive.

54.implicate (verb)

English Meaning - accuse, frame, blame, involve.

55.in any way (phrase)

English Meaning - under any circumstances/conditions.

56.intelligence (noun)

English Meaning - (military/political) information, facts, details, particulars.

57.operation (noun)

English Meaning - action/activity.

58.jeopardise (verb)

English Meaning - imperil, threaten, put at risk, put in danger, endanger.

59.overseas (adverb)

English Meaning - in a foreign country.

60.hostage (noun)

English Meaning - a person captured or held as security for the fulfilment of certain conditions/terms; security, surety.

61.tensions (noun)

English Meaning - strained relations, strain, unease.

62.bombardment (noun)

English Meaning - bombing, shelling (continuous attack).

63.Gaza (noun)

English Meaning - a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel and Egypt.

64.consistently (adverb)

English Meaning - invariably, constantly, regularly.

65.calibrated (adjective)

English Meaning - carefully assessed/analysed.

66.sensitivity (noun)

English Meaning - responsiveness, diplomacy, delicacy, finer feelings, reactivity, susceptibility, perception.

67.couple with (verb)

English Meaning - combine, connect, link.

68.determined (adjective)

English Meaning - resolute, firm, dedicated, committed, insistent, steadfast, relentless.

69.push (noun)

English Meaning - a spirited/determined effort to do something.