Hindi English Translation || Editorial || In need of an overhaul: on the Election Commission of India’s press note

In need of an overhaul: on the Election Commission of India’s press note

The Election Commission of India’s (भारत निर्वाचन आयोग) response is mere (मात्र, केवल) damage control (क्षति-नियंत्रण), the Special Intensive Revision’s ill-effects (दुष्प्रभाव, हानिकारक परिणाम) must be undone (उलट देना, रद्द करना)

The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) press note (press release, communiqué, statement, notification, announcement) on Saturday, following (के बाद, के पश्चात) revelations (खुलासा, रहस्योद्घाटन) that Election Commissioners (निर्वाचन आयुक्त) Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded 14 objections (आपत्ति, विरोध) to decisions under (के अधीन, के नियंत्रण में) Chief Election Commissioner (मुख्य निर्वाचन आयुक्त) Gyanesh Kumar, reads (to present a specific impression or meaning when read; appear, seem, sound, come across as) like damage control to manage perceptions (धारणा, दृष्टिकोण). It concedes (स्वीकार करना, मान लेना) their complaints (a statement that something is unsatisfactory or unacceptable; grievance, protest, objection, criticism), but only administrative (प्रशासनिक, प्रशासन से संबंधित) ones. Agenda will be circulated before meetings, and the minutes afterwards, while officers’ foreign trips will require the ECI’s approval. It also implicitly (in a way that is not directly expressed; tacitly, indirectly, unspokenly, inherently) admits (to confess to be true/case; acknowledge, confess, concede, accept) the flawed (defective, faulty, imperfect, erroneous) implementation (execution, application, carrying out, enforcement) of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) (विशेष गहन पुनरीक्षण). Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) (A statutory officer appointed under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, responsible for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls in a specific constituency) are to launch a “special drive” to enrol anyone “whose name has got left out”. But there is no remorse (deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed; regret, sorrow, guilt, repentance) for an exercise that struck lakhs of genuine electors off the rolls in West Bengal and has marauded (to roam in search of things to steal or people to attack (used metaphorically here to imply causing havoc); raid, plunder, rampage, foray) from State to State. Those deleted are simply asked to reapply as though they were new applicants. There is no answer to Mr. Sandhu’s question on who authorised 16.1 lakh appeals to remove voters whom judicial officers had included in West Bengal.

India’s institutions (an established organization or corporation, especially of a public character; organization, establishment, body) have largely (to a great extent or on the whole; mostly, mainly, primarily, principally) held, except in dark periods (a highly distressing, troubled, or difficult phase in history; gloomy time, troubled time, difficult phase, adverse period) such as (for example, for instance, like, namely) the Emergency (The 21-month period of Internal Emergency in India from 25 June 1975 to 21 March 1977, officially proclaimed by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution on the ground of “internal disturbance”, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her government. During this period, civil liberties were severely curtailed, political opponents were jailed without trial, strict press censorship was imposed, and India’s democratic institutions came under severe strain), when an executive (the branch of government responsible for putting decisions or laws into effect; government, administration, leadership, ruling authority) emboldened (to give someone the courage or confidence to do something; encourage, hearten, strengthen, fortify) by legislative (having the power to make laws; law-making, parliamentary, policy-making, statutory) strength (power, influence, dominance, authority) ran roughshod over the Constitution and a shamelessly permissive judiciary let (to not prevent or forbid someone or something; allow, permit, authorize, sanction) it do so via (through, by means of, by way of, using) ADM Jabalpur (a landmark 1976 Supreme Court of India judgment (Additional District Magistrate, Jabalpur v. Shivakant Shukla), popularly known as the Habeas Corpus case. Delivered during the Emergency, the majority held that during the operation of Presidential Orders under Article 359, a detained person could not move a court to enforce specified fundamental rights, including the right to personal liberty under Article 21. The judgment was widely criticized and was expressly overruled by the Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India (2017)). The ECI under Mr. Kumar has overseen (supervise, manage, direct, control) the removal of more than 13 crore names from draft rolls (a preliminary version of the electoral register that is subject to modification or correction; preliminary register, initial list, provisional roll, unfinalized list) through the SIR which, as this daily (newspaper, publication, broadsheet, paper) has repeatedly (over and over again or constantly; frequently, continually, consistently, time and again) argued, shifts the onus (responsibility, burden, liability, obligation) of enrolment (registration, admission, signing up) from the state (the civil government of a country; government, administration, regime, authorities) to the elector, deletes names before it verifies and imposes (to force an unwelcome decision or ruling on someone; force, inflict, apply) onerous (burdensome, difficult, demanding, strenuous) conditions (requirement, prerequisite, stipulation, term) for re-entry. It got away with this because the Supreme Court declined for months to decide whether the exercise was constitutional (relating to an established set of principles governing a state; legal, lawful, legitimate, valid). When it finally ruled on May 27, the SIR was already a settled fact (established reality, undeniable truth, confirmed situation, proven matter) in Bihar, West Bengal and other Phase 2 States. The judgment, reminiscent (tending to remind one of something; evocative, suggestive, echoing, reminding) of ADM Jabalpur’s deference (polite submission and respect; submission, obedience, compliance, yielding) to the state, engaged the SIR in theory (hypothetically, ideally, on paper, theoretically) and not in practice (in reality rather than formally or theoretically; in reality, actually, practically, in fact). It read a provision (term, clause, condition, stipulation) for exceptional (unusual, abnormal, uncommon, extraordinary), targeted revisions as a licence (formal or official permission to do something; permit, authorization, right, freedom) for a State-wide sweep (a comprehensive search or clean-up operation; clear-out, removal, cleanup, purge). While it assured voters already on the rolls that they were still presumed (assume, suppose, believe, expect) eligible, the SIR made them prove it all over again (once more from the beginning; once more, again, afresh, anew). And it brushed aside its 1995 ruling (The Supreme Court of India judgment in Lal Babu Hussein v. Electoral Registration Officer (1995), which held that where a person’s name is already on an electoral roll, due weight must be given to the fact that the statutory procedure for inclusion had been followed. Before the name can be deleted, the individual must be given a reasonable, meaningful, and purposive opportunity of being heard, including disclosure of the material forming the basis for the proposed deletion. The officer must independently consider the evidence and pass an appropriate, reasoned speaking order) that every removal must be individually (one by one or separately; separately, singly, independently, personally) reasoned (justify, explain, rationalize, substantiate). Events since then indicate the damage done — over nine in 10 appeals decided by West Bengal’s tribunals have restored deleted voters months after the Assembly polls; and in one third of Delhi’s seats, the draft rolls have fewer electors than those who voted in 2025. The ECI’s press note changes very little (hardly anything, almost nothing, next to nothing, minimal). The ECI must be reconstituted (reorganize, restructure, reform, remake) by a selection committee (a panel or group of individuals officially appointed to review, evaluate, and choose candidates for a specific important position or office) that does not give the government an overriding (predominant, dominant, pre-eminent, crucial) majority. Anything less would be a travesty (a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something; mockery, farce, parody, distortion) of institutional democracy (a form of democratic governance in which established institutions, rules, and constitutional processes regulate and distribute public power, supported by checks and balances, representative government, and institutional accountability; constitutional democracy, rule-based democracy, representative democracy, institutional governance).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Election Commission of India (ECI) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भारत निर्वाचन आयोग
English Meaning - A permanent, autonomous constitutional body established on 25 January 1950 under Article 324 of the Constitution to administer and ensure free and fair elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.

2.mere (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - मात्र, केवल
English Meaning - only, just, simple, bare.

3.damage control (noun)

Hindi Meaning - क्षति-नियंत्रण
English Meaning - measures taken to offset or minimize damage to reputation, credibility, or public image; containment, crisis management, mitigation, damage limitation.

4.Special Intensive Revision (SIR) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विशेष गहन पुनरीक्षण
English Meaning - an official process undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to comprehensively update and revise electoral rolls, specifically targeting the inclusion of newly eligible voters, removal of ineligible names, and correction of existing details before elections.

5.ill-effect (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दुष्प्रभाव, हानिकारक परिणाम
English Meaning - adverse effect, harmful outcome, repercussion, negative consequence.

6.undo (verb)

Hindi Meaning - उलट देना, रद्द करना
English Meaning - reverse, cancel, revoke, nullify.

7.following (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - के बाद, के पश्चात
English Meaning - coming after or as a result of an event; after, subsequent to, in the aftermath of, succeeding.

8.revelation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - खुलासा, रहस्योद्घाटन
English Meaning - information that was previously unknown or secret and has become known; disclosure, declaration, exposure, announcement, exposing, unearthing, admission.

9.Election Commissioner (EC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निर्वाचन आयुक्त
English Meaning - A constitutional authority appointed under Article 324 to the Election Commission of India, responsible alongside the Chief Election Commissioner for the administration of Union and State election processes.

10.objection (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आपत्ति, विरोध
English Meaning - an expression or feeling of disapproval or opposition; protest, complaint, opposition, disapproval.

11.under (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - के अधीन, के नियंत्रण में
English Meaning - controlled, managed, or governed by someone; led by, guided by, supervised by, directed by.

12.Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मुख्य निर्वाचन आयुक्त
English Meaning - the head of the Election Commission of India, appointed by the President under Article 324. (Until the statutory procedure introduced in 2023, there was no constitutionally prescribed Selection Committee; appointments were made by the President on the advice of the Union executive. Following the Supreme Court’s Anoop Baranwal judgment of March 2, 2023, an interim selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India was prescribed until Parliament enacted a law. The 2023 Act, effective from January 2, 2024, established the present Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.)

13.perception (noun)

Hindi Meaning - धारणा, दृष्टिकोण
English Meaning - the ways in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted by the public; public view, impression, opinion, perspective, understanding, impression, interpretation, observation.

14.concede (verb)

Hindi Meaning - स्वीकार करना, मान लेना
English Meaning - to admit or agree that something is true after first denying or resisting it; admit, acknowledge, accept, recognize.

15.administrative (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रशासनिक, प्रशासन से संबंधित
English Meaning - relating to the running of a business, organization, etc.; organizational, procedural, managerial, regulatory.

16.in need of (phrase)

English Meaning - requiring something because it is essential or important; requiring, needing, wanting, short of.

17.read (verb)

English Meaning - to present a specific impression or meaning when read; appear, seem, sound, come across as.

18.complaint (noun)

English Meaning - a statement that something is unsatisfactory or unacceptable; grievance, protest, objection, criticism.

19.overhaul (noun)

English Meaning - a thorough examination of a system with repairs or changes made; reorganization, restructuring, revamp, reform.

20.press note (noun)

English Meaning - press release, communiqué, statement, notification, announcement.

21.implicitly (adverb)

English Meaning - in a way that is not directly expressed; tacitly, indirectly, unspokenly, inherently.

22.admit (verb)

English Meaning - to confess to be true/case; acknowledge, confess, concede, accept.

23.flawed (adjective)

English Meaning - defective, faulty, imperfect, erroneous.

24.implementation (noun)

English Meaning - execution, application, carrying out, enforcement.

25.Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) (noun)

English Meaning - A statutory officer appointed under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, responsible for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls in a specific constituency.

26.(special) drive (noun)

English Meaning - an intensive, focused, and purposeful campaign or effort to achieve a specific goal within a limited period; campaign, push, initiative, movement.

27.leave out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to fail to include someone or something; exclude, omit, drop, skip.

28.remorse (noun)

English Meaning - deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed; regret, sorrow, guilt, repentance.

29.strike off (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to remove a name from an official list or register; remove, delete, erase, cancel.

30.maraud (verb)

English Meaning - to roam in search of things to steal or people to attack (used metaphorically here to imply causing havoc); raid, plunder, rampage, foray.

31.institution (noun)

English Meaning - an established organization or corporation, especially of a public character; organization, establishment, body.

32.largely (adverb)

English Meaning - to a great extent or on the whole; mostly, mainly, primarily, principally.

33.hold (verb)

English Meaning - remained firm, effective, resilient, or intact despite pressure; remain intact, endure, withstand, survive, persist.

34.dark period (noun)

English Meaning - a highly distressing, troubled, or difficult phase in history; gloomy time, troubled time, difficult phase, adverse period.

35.such as (phrase)

English Meaning - for example, for instance, like, namely.

36.The Emergency (noun)

English Meaning - The 21-month period of Internal Emergency in India from 25 June 1975 to 21 March 1977, officially proclaimed by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution on the ground of “internal disturbance”, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her government. During this period, civil liberties were severely curtailed, political opponents were jailed without trial, strict press censorship was imposed, and India’s democratic institutions came under severe strain.

37.executive (noun)

English Meaning - the branch of government responsible for putting decisions or laws into effect; government, administration, leadership, ruling authority.

38.embolden (verb)

English Meaning - to give someone the courage or confidence to do something; encourage, hearten, strengthen, fortify.

39.legislative (adjective)

English Meaning - having the power to make laws; law-making, parliamentary, policy-making, statutory.

40.strength (noun)

English Meaning - power, influence, dominance, authority.

41.let (verb)

English Meaning - to not prevent or forbid someone or something; allow, permit, authorize, sanction.

42.via (preposition)

English Meaning - through, by means of, by way of, using.

43.ADM Jabalpur (noun)

English Meaning - a landmark 1976 Supreme Court of India judgment (Additional District Magistrate, Jabalpur v. Shivakant Shukla), popularly known as the Habeas Corpus case. Delivered during the Emergency, the majority held that during the operation of Presidential Orders under Article 359, a detained person could not move a court to enforce specified fundamental rights, including the right to personal liberty under Article 21. The judgment was widely criticized and was expressly overruled by the Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India (2017).

44.oversee (verb)

English Meaning - supervise, manage, direct, control.

45.draft roll (noun)

English Meaning - a preliminary version of the electoral register that is subject to modification or correction; preliminary register, initial list, provisional roll, unfinalized list.

46.daily (noun)

English Meaning - newspaper, publication, broadsheet, paper.

47.repeatedly (adverb)

English Meaning - over and over again or constantly; frequently, continually, consistently, time and again.

48.onus (noun)

English Meaning - responsibility, burden, liability, obligation.

49.enrolment (noun)

English Meaning - registration, admission, signing up.

50.state (noun)

English Meaning - the civil government of a country; government, administration, regime, authorities.

51.impose (verb)

English Meaning - to force an unwelcome decision or ruling on someone; force, inflict, apply.

52.onerous (adjective)

English Meaning - burdensome, difficult, demanding, strenuous.

53.condition (noun)

English Meaning - requirement, prerequisite, stipulation, term.

54.get away with (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to escape blame, punishment, or undesirable consequences for an act; evade, overcome, avoid responsibility for, escape.

55.constitutional (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to an established set of principles governing a state; legal, lawful, legitimate, valid.

56.settled fact (noun)

English Meaning - established reality, undeniable truth, confirmed situation, proven matter.

57.reminiscent (adjective)

English Meaning - tending to remind one of something; evocative, suggestive, echoing, reminding.

58.deference (noun)

English Meaning - polite submission and respect; submission, obedience, compliance, yielding.

59.in theory (phrase)

English Meaning - hypothetically, ideally, on paper, theoretically.

60.in practice (phrase)

English Meaning - in reality rather than formally or theoretically; in reality, actually, practically, in fact.

61.provision (noun)

English Meaning - term, clause, condition, stipulation.

62.exceptional (adjective)

English Meaning - unusual, abnormal, uncommon, extraordinary.

63.licence (noun)

English Meaning - formal or official permission to do something; permit, authorization, right, freedom.

64.sweep (noun)

English Meaning - a comprehensive search or clean-up operation; clear-out, removal, cleanup, purge.

65.presume (verb)

English Meaning - assume, suppose, believe, expect.

66.all over again (phrase)

English Meaning - once more from the beginning; once more, again, afresh, anew.

67.brush aside (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to dismiss someone or something as unimportant; dismiss, ignore, disregard, overlook.

68.1995 ruling (noun)

English Meaning - The Supreme Court of India judgment in Lal Babu Hussein v. Electoral Registration Officer (1995), which held that where a person’s name is already on an electoral roll, due weight must be given to the fact that the statutory procedure for inclusion had been followed. Before the name can be deleted, the individual must be given a reasonable, meaningful, and purposive opportunity of being heard, including disclosure of the material forming the basis for the proposed deletion. The officer must independently consider the evidence and pass an appropriate, reasoned speaking order.

69.individually (adverb)

English Meaning - one by one or separately; separately, singly, independently, personally.

70.reason (verb)

English Meaning - justify, explain, rationalize, substantiate.

71.very little (phrase)

English Meaning - hardly anything, almost nothing, next to nothing, minimal.

72.reconstitute (verb)

English Meaning - reorganize, restructure, reform, remake.

73.selection committee (noun)

English Meaning - a panel or group of individuals officially appointed to review, evaluate, and choose candidates for a specific important position or office.

74.overriding (adjective)

English Meaning - predominant, dominant, pre-eminent, crucial.

75.overriding majority (noun)

English Meaning - a majority large enough to control or decisively influence a decision; dominant majority, controlling majority, decisive majority, commanding majority.

76.travesty (noun)

English Meaning - a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something; mockery, farce, parody, distortion.

77.institutional democracy (noun)

English Meaning - a form of democratic governance in which established institutions, rules, and constitutional processes regulate and distribute public power, supported by checks and balances, representative government, and institutional accountability; constitutional democracy, rule-based democracy, representative democracy, institutional governance.

78.democracy (noun)

English Meaning - a constitutional system of government in which political authority ultimately derives from the people and is exercised through elected representatives, with political equality, universal adult suffrage, and constitutional guarantees of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity; popular government, representative government, self-government, popular rule, self-rule.