Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Capital quandary: On politics and Delhi’s administrative autonomy

Capital quandary: On politics and Delhi’s administrative autonomy

Delhi’s quest (खोज) for administrative autonomy (प्रशासनिक स्वायत्तता) is hostage (बंधक) to the Bharatiya Janata Party-Aam Aadmi Party rivalry (प्रतिद्वंद्विता, विरोध)

The Centre has through an ordinance (अध्यादेश) overturned a Supreme Court judgment of May 11 that held that the elected government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi had executive (कार्यकारी) and legislative (विधायी) powers over its officials (अधिकारी). The move (कदम, कार्रवाई) has set in motion (start, begin, activate, initiate, launch; cause, bring about) a new legal battle. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has decided to challenge the ordinance, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre has moved (apply formally to a court for something) the Court to review its judgment. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Act (NCTD), 1991 created a unique administrative unit, and judicial interpretations (व्याख्या, अनुवाद) have never completely resolved the conflicts between the Centre and the elected government of the NCTD all these years. The judgment held that Union Territories with a Legislative Assembly (विधानसभा) of their own are comparable (similar, equivalent, matching, commensurate) to States, and their government’s executive powers would extend (be applicable to, include, comprise, incorporate, encompass) to all matters on which they are allowed to make laws. In Delhi’s case, law and order (कानून एवं व्यवस्था) and land remained with the Centre, unlike other States. The Court also pointed out (identify, mention, indicate, draw attention to) the absence of a law on services, and the lack of (absence, non-existence, unavailability) oversight (supervision, inspection, management, controlling/handling, direction) by elected representatives (प्रतिनिधि) over the officials under the present scheme. The ordinance purportedly (कथित रूप से) removes the basis of the judgment by creating the National Capital Civil Service Authority (The Amendment to the GNCTD Act has now created a “National Capital Civil Service Authority” which will now “make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters.” The NCCSA will consist of the elected Chief Minister of Delhi, the Chief Secretary of Delhi and the Principal Secretary, Home of the GNCTD (both appointed by the central government — as members)). The Chief Minister is the chair, with the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, Home — both appointed by the central government — as members. The Centre reclaimed (प्राप्त करना) all powers it lost in the judgment.

The Centre is well within its powers to overturn (cancel, reverse, repeal, revoke, override, quash, nullify, invalidate) a judicial pronouncement through (by means of, by way of, via, with the help of, using) legislation (body of laws, acts, rules, regulations, statutes). Whether the basis of the instant (immediate, prompt, quick) judgment has been removed by the ordinance remains an open question (a matter or problem that is being discussed (without any known solution)), but the more pertinent (applicable, appropriate, suitable, related, relevant) issue is the political intent (aim, purpose, intention) of the Centre’s move. The Centre under the current BJP dispensation (government, regime, system, establishment) has been confrontational (attacking, hostile, combative, argumentative), rather than (instead of) cooperative, with States in resolving governance (administration, bureaucracy) issues. It has shown little regard (consideration, attention, notice; approval, high opinion, appreciation) for elected governments at lower levels, while claiming for itself all powers on the grounds (reason, cause, basis) of its electoral majority. Delhi being the national capital has to maintain a unique administrative character (identity, quality, attribute, trait), and it should not be left to the exigencies (need, demand, requirement, importance, priority, necessity) of local politics. Equally, the voters of Delhi cannot be disenfranchised (stripe/deprive (someone) of a right or privilege) for extraneous (pointless, irrelevant, immaterial, inappropriate) reasons. The irony (paradox, incongruity, peculiarity; contradiction, a strange/funny situation where things are happening the other way around (than expected)) is that AAP itself has been a votary (a devoted follower of someone or something; adherent, supporter, advocate, champion, disciple) of centralisation (the process of having functions, powers, people or things only in a central location or authority), though it could swing (change, shift, switch, oscillate, fluctuate) to provincialism (the process of decentralizing functions, powers, people or things to provincial governments) to suit its leaders in a changed situation. The AAP government had resorted to (turn to, have recourse to, fall back on, adapt, make use of) provincialist (relating to the process of decentralizing functions, powers, people or things to provincial governments) rhetoric (bombast, loftiness, hyperbole/extravagant language) in the past, also going to the extent of questioning the rights of people from other States to access health care and education in the national capital. It was also a cheerleader (an ardent supporter of someone) of the Centre’s brazen (blatant/flagrant; bold and shameless; unashamed, unembarrassed) move that dismantled (remove, demolish, take down, destroy (something)) the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. Democracy and federalism are threatened by an unprincipled (immoral, unethical, deceitful, dishonest) hunger for power, and AAP is both villain and victim (sufferer).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.administrative autonomy (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रशासनिक स्वायत्तता
English Meaning - Broadly described, administrative autonomy in the public sector is the ability of public institutions, governed by the administrators, to independently determine their preferences and translate them to authoritative actions without the control of the political system.

2.quest (noun)

Hindi Meaning - खोज
English Meaning - search, pursuit, pursuance of.

3.hostage (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बंधक
English Meaning - pawn, security (a person/thing used by others for their own purposes).

4.rivalry (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिद्वंद्विता, विरोध
English Meaning - competition, opposition, conflict, discord, friction, enmity.

5.ordinance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अध्यादेश
English Meaning - law, decree, directive, regulation (promulgated by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet).

6.executive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यकारी
English Meaning - relating to a branch of government which enforces the law as written by the legislature and interpreted by the judiciary.

7.legislative (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विधायी
English Meaning - relating to a legislature; law-making (body), parliamentary, policy-making, administrative.

8.official (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अधिकारी
English Meaning - officer, administrator, bureaucrat, functionary, mandarin.

9.move (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कदम, कार्रवाई
English Meaning - step, action, act, measure.

10.interpretation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - व्याख्या, अनुवाद
English Meaning - meaning, understanding, explanation, reading, definition.

11.Legislative Assembly (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विधानसभा
English Meaning - Vidhan Sabha; Legislative Assembly is the lower house, much like the Lok Sabha of the Parliament. Members of the Legislative Assembly are directly elected by the people through assembly elections. The term of the Legislative Assembly is five years (unless it is dissolved earlier). A member of a legislative Assembly is referred to as an MLA.

12.law and order (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कानून एवं व्यवस्था
English Meaning - lawful behaviour, order, lawfulness, discipline, peacefulness; (Under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore, it is the primary duty of the State Governments to prevent, detect, register and investigate crime and prosecute the criminals).

13.(elected) representative (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिनिधि
English Meaning - a member of a legislature (parliament/legislative assembly); lawmaker, legislator.

14.purportedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कथित रूप से
English Meaning - reportedly, supposedly, allegedly, apparently.

15.reclaim (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्राप्त करना
English Meaning - get back, take back, regain.

16.quandary (noun)

English Meaning - problem, difficulty, dilemma.

17.administrative (adjective)

English Meaning - regulatory, governmental, executive.

18.autonomy (noun)

English Meaning - self-rule, independence, freedom.

19.through (preposition)

English Meaning - by means of, by way of, via, with the help of, using.

20.overturn (verb)

English Meaning - cancel, reverse, repeal, revoke, override, quash, nullify, invalidate.

21.hold (verb)

English Meaning - (of a court) - rule, decide.

22.set in motion (phrase)

English Meaning - start, begin, activate, initiate, launch; cause, bring about.

23.move (verb)

English Meaning - apply formally to a court for something.

24.The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act (noun)

English Meaning - The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 15, 2021. The Bill amends the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991. The Act provides a framework for the functioning of the Legislative Assembly and the government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The Bill amends certain powers and responsibilities of the Legislative Assembly and the Lieutenant Governor.

25.comparable (adjective)

English Meaning - similar, equivalent, matching, commensurate.

26.extend (verb)

English Meaning - be applicable to, include, comprise, incorporate, encompass.

27.point out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - identify, mention, indicate, draw attention to.

28.lack of (noun)

English Meaning - absence, non-existence, unavailability.

29.oversight (noun)

English Meaning - supervision, inspection, management, controlling/handling, direction.

30.National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) (noun)

English Meaning - The Amendment to the GNCTD Act has now created a “National Capital Civil Service Authority” which will now “make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters.” The NCCSA will consist of the elected Chief Minister of Delhi, the Chief Secretary of Delhi and the Principal Secretary, Home of the GNCTD (both appointed by the central government — as members).

31.chair (noun)

English Meaning - leader.

32.pronouncement (noun)

English Meaning - judgement, ruling, adjudication, declaration.

33.legislation (noun)

English Meaning - body of laws, acts, rules, regulations, statutes.

34.instant (adjective)

English Meaning - immediate, prompt, quick.

35.open question (noun)

English Meaning - a matter or problem that is being discussed (without any known solution).

36.pertinent (adjective)

English Meaning - applicable, appropriate, suitable, related, relevant.

37.intent (noun)

English Meaning - aim, purpose, intention.

38.dispensation (noun)

English Meaning - government, regime, system, establishment.

39.confrontational (adjective)

English Meaning - attacking, hostile, combative, argumentative.

30.rather than (phrase)

English Meaning - instead of.

31.governance (noun)

English Meaning - administration, bureaucracy.

32.regard (noun)

English Meaning - consideration, attention, notice; approval, high opinion, appreciation.

33.ground (noun)

English Meaning - reason, cause, basis.

33.character (noun)

English Meaning - identity, quality, attribute, trait.

34.exigency (noun)

English Meaning - need, demand, requirement, importance, priority, necessity.

35.disenfranchise (verb)

English Meaning - stripe/deprive (someone) of a right or privilege.

36.extraneous (adjective)

English Meaning - pointless, irrelevant, immaterial, inappropriate.

37.irony (noun)

English Meaning - paradox, incongruity, peculiarity; contradiction, a strange/funny situation where things are happening the other way around (than expected).

38.votary (noun)

English Meaning - a devoted follower of someone or something; adherent, supporter, advocate, champion, disciple.

39.centralisation (noun)

English Meaning - the process of having functions, powers, people or things only in a central location or authority.

40.swing (verb)

English Meaning - change, shift, switch, oscillate, fluctuate.

41.provincialism (noun)

English Meaning - the process of decentralizing functions, powers, people or things to provincial governments.

42.resort to (verb)

English Meaning - turn to, have recourse to, fall back on, adapt, make use of.

43.provincialist (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to the process of decentralizing functions, powers, people or things to provincial governments.

44.rhetoric (noun)

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

45.cheerleader (noun)

English Meaning - an ardent supporter of someone.

46.brazen (adjective)

English Meaning - blatant/flagrant; bold and shameless; unashamed, unembarrassed.

47.dismantle (verb)

English Meaning - remove, demolish, take down, destroy (something).

48.federalism/federal framework/system (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government in which establishments such as states or provinces share power with a national government.

49.unprincipled (adjective)

English Meaning - immoral, unethical, deceitful, dishonest.

50.hunger (noun)

English Meaning - strong desire, appetite, longing.

51.victim (noun)

English Meaning - sufferer.