Hindi English Translation || Editorial || For a full repeal: On AFSPA

For a full repeal: On AFSPA

The relaxation of AFSPA is welcome, but the demand for full repeal (रद्द करना, निरसन) should be considered

In what is clearly a nod to the vociferous (vehement, vigorous; outspoken, forthright, vocal) demand for the repeal of the unpopular (अप्रसिद्ध, बदनाम, नापसंद) Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (अधिनियम, क़ानून, नियम) (AFSPA) from several States in the northeast, especially after 13 civilians (नागरिक, असैनिक) were killed in Mon district in Nagaland in December last year, the Union Home Ministry has decided to considerably (काफी, ज़रूर, उल्लेखनीय रूप से) reduce the number of “disturbed areas” under the Act in three States. The order, from April 1, is applicable for six months. In Nagaland, while AFSPA was removed from the jurisdiction (अधिकार-क्षेत्र) of 15 police stations in seven districts, it remains in place (जगह में, के स्थान पर) in 57 police stations in 13 districts. The relaxation (विश्राम, ढील, छूट) has been most substantial (संतोषजनक, उल्लेखनीय) in Assam, where it has been removed entirely from 23 districts and partially from one, thus (इसलिए, परिणामस्वरूप, उसके कारण) limiting its operation fully to only nine districts. In Manipur, on the other hand (दूसरी ओर, वैकल्पिक रूप से), only 15 police station areas in six districts have been excluded from the disturbed area notification, and the Act is still in force (लागू, प्रभावी, संचालन में) in 82 police stations in 16 districts, including several hill districts whether or not they adjoin (अगला होना, सीमा से सटे होना) the international boundary. As things stand, the Government’s decision to relax the application (आवेदन, उपयोग, कार्यान्वयन, निष्पादन) of the Act in specific areas seems to stem from (से निकला, से उत्पन्न होना) the reduction in violence and also administrative (regulatory, organizational, controlling, governmental) reasons rather than (instead of) as a response to the burning question (an urgent/crucial issue (that people feel very strongly about)) on whether the Act is essential to security operations in these States, which have experienced (undergo, encounter, meet, be faced with, confront) insurgencies (uprising, revolt, rebellion) of various degrees (level) in the past.

While this piecemeal (disorganized, unplanned, unsystematic, unmethodical, step by step) gesture (action, deed, move; sign, signal, indication) would be welcomed by the residents in these areas in particular (particularly, specifically), the popular (public, societal, collective; general, common, widespread) demand for the repeal of the Act in full (in its entirety, in total) from the three States remains unfulfilled. Despite (in spite of, notwithstanding, regardless of) the vociferous protests from security forces for the retention (the continued possession & use of something) of the Act, human rights (Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination) organisations, sections (segment, part, division) of civil society (civil society refers to space for collective action around shared interests, purposes, and values, generally distinct from government and commercial for-profit actors. It refers to a wide array of organizations: community groups, non-governmental organizations [NGOs], labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, and foundations. Civil society - sometimes called the “third sector” (after government and commerce)- has the power to influence the actions of elected policy-makers and businesses) and committees including the five-member committee led by retired Supreme Court judge B.P. Jeevan Reddy in 2005, have steadfastly called for (require, publicly ask/necessitate, demand) its repeal. The committee in particular had suggested that the Act had created an impression (opinion, view, perception) that the people of the northeast States were being targeted for hostile (adverse, bad, harsh, grim, hard, tough) treatment and that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India) could instead be suitably amended to tackle (address, deal with, attend to, try to sort out) terrorism. The Supreme Court-appointed Justice N. Santosh Hegde committee, in 2013, which investigated “encounter” killings in Manipur, suggested that the Act must be properly reviewed every six months to see if its implementation (execution, application, use, utilization) is necessary, but extensions of the purview (range, scope, ambit, compass) of the Act have proceeded as routine affairs (activities, matters, dealings, undertakings, ventures, proceedings). In 2016, the Supreme Court had also ruled that the armed forces (forces, services, militia, soldiery) could not be immune (resistant, not subject, not liable (from the effects of something); freed from, absolved from, released from, excused from, relieved of, spared from, excepted from, exempted from) from investigation for excesses (uncontrolled behaviour; unrestricted conduct; extreme, violent actions which are unacceptable) committed during the discharge (carrying out, execution, implementation) of their duties even in “disturbed areas”, in effect (in reality, in actual fact, effectively, essentially, practically) circumscribing (restrict, limit; regulate) the conditions in which the immunity (exemption, exclusion, exception, indemnity, freedom; special treatment, privilege, favouritism) is applied. These beg the question (raise a point; invite question) again — why should the Act remain in the statute (act/law, regulation, rule (written & laid down by the legislature))?

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.repeal (noun)

Hindi Meaning - रद्द करना, निरसन
English Meaning - revocation, cancellation, reversal, annulment, nullification, invalidation,, abolition, abrogation, withdrawal.

2.Act (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अधिनियम, क़ानून, नियम
English Meaning - law, decree, statute, rule, ordinance.

3.relaxation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विश्राम, ढील, छूट
English Meaning - the process of making a restriction/rule less strict.

4.unpopular (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अप्रसिद्ध, बदनाम, नापसंद
English Meaning - unfamous, disliked, hated, loathed.

5.civilian (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नागरिक, असैनिक
English Meaning - non-military person, ordinary citizen.

6.considerably (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - काफी, ज़रूर, उल्लेखनीय रूप से
English Meaning - significantly, substantially, appreciably, markedly, noticeably.

7.jurisdiction (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अधिकार-क्षेत्र
English Meaning - territory, region, province, district, area (to which a court of law or other institution can exercise its authority over suits, cases, appeals etc.).

8.in place (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - जगह में, के स्थान पर
English Meaning - in position; exist.

9.substantial (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संतोषजनक, उल्लेखनीय
English Meaning - considerable, significant, notable.

10.thus (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - इसलिए, परिणामस्वरूप, उसके कारण
English Meaning - therefore, accordingly, hence, as a result, because of that.

11.on the other hand (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - दूसरी ओर, वैकल्पिक रूप से
English Meaning - as an alternative.

12.in force (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - लागू, प्रभावी, संचालन में
English Meaning - effective, in operation, operative, operational, in action.

13.adjoin (verb)

Hindi Meaning - अगला होना, सीमा से सटे होना
English Meaning - be adjacent to, border, abut.

14.application (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आवेदन, उपयोग, कार्यान्वयन, निष्पादन
English Meaning - use, utilization; implementation, execution; putting into operation/practice.

15.stem from (verb)

Hindi Meaning - से निकला, से उत्पन्न होना
English Meaning - arise from, originate from, come from, be rooted in, emanate from, issue from, result from.

16.Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA), 1958 (noun)

English Meaning - In simple terms, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. They have the authority to prohibit a gathering of five or more persons in an area, can use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law. If reasonable suspicion exists, the army can also arrest a person without a warrant; enter or search a premises without a warrant; and ban the possession of firearms.

17.nod (noun)

English Meaning - indication, signal, sign (of approval).

18.vociferous (adjective)

English Meaning - vehement, vigorous; outspoken, forthright, vocal.

19.as things stand (phrase)

English Meaning - in the present situation.

20.relax (verb)

English Meaning - make less strict, ease.

21.administrative (adjective)

English Meaning - regulatory, organizational, controlling, governmental.

22.rather than (phrase)

English Meaning - instead of.

23.burning (adjective)

English Meaning - urgent, crucial, pressing/compelling, important/significant.

24.burning question (noun)

English Meaning - an urgent/crucial issue (that people feel very strongly about).

25.experience (verb)

English Meaning - undergo, encounter, meet, be faced with, confront.

26.insurgency (noun)

English Meaning - uprising, revolt, rebellion.

27.degree (noun)

English Meaning - level.

28.piecemeal (adjective)

English Meaning - disorganized, unplanned, unsystematic, unmethodical, step by step.

29.gesture (noun)

English Meaning -action, deed, move; sign, signal, indication.

30.in particular (phrase)

English Meaning - particularly, specifically.

31.popular (adjective)

English Meaning - public, societal, collective; general, common, widespread.

32.in full (phrase)

English Meaning - in its entirety, in total.

33.unfulfilled (adjective)

English Meaning - incomplete, unfinished, neglected.

34.despite (preposition)

English Meaning - in spite of, notwithstanding, regardless of.

35.retention (noun)

English Meaning - the continued possession & use of something.

36.human rights (noun)

English Meaning - Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

37.section (noun)

English Meaning - segment, part, division.

38.civil society (noun)

English Meaning - civil society refers to space for collective action around shared interests, purposes, and values, generally distinct from government and commercial for-profit actors. It refers to a wide array of organizations: community groups, non-governmental organizations [NGOs], labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, and foundations. Civil society - sometimes called the “third sector” (after government and commerce)- has the power to influence the actions of elected policy-makers and businesses.

39.steadfastly (adverb)

English Meaning - firmly, resolutely, single-mindedly.

40.call for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - require, publicly ask/necessitate, demand.

41.impression (noun)

English Meaning - opinion, view, perception.

42.hostile (adjective)

English Meaning - adverse, bad, harsh, grim, hard, tough.

43.Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) (noun)

English Meaning - an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.

44.instead (adverb)

English Meaning - as an alternative, as a substitute, as a replacement.

45.tackle (verb)

English Meaning - address, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.

46.implementation(noun)

English Meaning - execution, application, use, utilization.

47.purview (noun)

English Meaning - range, scope, ambit, compass.

48.affair (noun)

English Meaning - activities, matters, dealings, undertakings, ventures, proceedings.

49.armed forces (noun)

English Meaning - forces, services, militia, soldiery.

50.immune (adjective)

English Meaning - resistant, not subject, not liable (from the effects of something); freed from, absolved from, released from, excused from, relieved of, spared from, excepted from, exempted from.

51.excesses (noun)

English Meaning - uncontrolled behaviour; unrestricted conduct; extreme, violent actions which are unacceptable.

52.discharge (noun)

English Meaning - carrying out, execution, implementation,

53.in effect (phrase)

English Meaning - in reality, in actual fact, effectively, essentially, practically.

54.circumscribe (verb)

English Meaning - restrict, limit; regulate.

55.immunity (noun)

English Meaning - exemption, exclusion, exception, indemnity, freedom; special treatment, privilege, favouritism.

56.beg the question (phrase)

English Meaning - raise a point; invite question.