Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Instant injustice: On state high-handedness

​Instant injustice: On state high-handedness

The state must not be allowed to adopt (अपनाना, स्वीकार करना) the playbook of the mob (भीड़, उपद्रवी भीड़)

Arbitrariness (मनमानी) and brazen bias (पक्षपात, पूर्वाग्रह) in law enforcement (क़ानून प्रवर्तन, विधि प्रवर्तन) have undermined (कमज़ोर करना, क्षति पहुँचाना) the rule of law (कानून का शासन) in India for decades (दशक, दस वर्षों की अवधि). Despite the spread of education and growing (बढ़ता हुआ, विकासशील) awareness of rights among the masses, high-handedness (heavy-handedness, arrogance, domineering action, overbearing behavior, imperiousness; autocracy, absolute power, totalitarianism) by the state (राज्य, सरकार) often threatens the fundamental rights (मौलिक अधिकार) and dignity (गरिमा, स्वाभिमान) of citizens. Custodial torture and extrajudicial (out-of-court, private, unauthorized/unwarranted (by law)) killings are reported with alarming (चिंताजनक, भयावह) frequency (आवृत्ति, बारंबारता). Police and civic (government, public, community, local) authorities in several States now routinely resort to (fall back on, turn to, have recourse to, make use of, use, utilize) demolition of property as a convenient and extra-legal (unauthorized by law; beyond the scope of legal authority) form of punishment — not just for criminal suspects (suspected person, accused) but also for political opponents. Given (considering, taking into account, bearing in mind) the spread of this disturbing trend, the Supreme Court of India’s strong remarks against the practice this week offer a glimmer of hope (a faint sign or trace of hope or a fait hint of hope). A Bench (a court of law with a number of judges) headed by Justice A.S. Oka stated that the illegal demolition of properties belonging to six individuals by the Prayagraj Development Authority in Uttar Pradesh in 2021 had “shocked the conscience (moral sense, inner voice; values/principles)” of the Court. The order followed findings (A conclusion reached as a result of an inquiry, investigation, or trial; conclusion, result; decision, verdict) that the demolitions were carried out without even serving show-cause notices (a notice/order asking an individual or group of persons to justify, explain, or prove something to the court/organisation) to the house owners, either in person (directly, face to face, personally (not by telephone, email, or online)) or by registered post. “These cases shock our conscience. Residential premises (building, property, site) of the appellants (litigator, litigant, petitioner, complainant, claimant, plaintiff) have been high-handedly (in an arrogant, domineering, or overbearing manner; oppressively or authoritatively) demolished… There is something called the right to shelter, something called due process ((equally and fairly) correct process; fair treatment (per established principles & procedures))… The authorities (officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system), and especially the development authority (An organization or statutory body established by the government to oversee and promote urban planning and development within a specific area or region), must remember that the right to shelter is also an integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution,” the Court observed (comment, remark, say, mention). The top court has ordered the payment of ₹10 lakh as compensation (payment, repayment, settlement (for loss/damage)) to each house owner. Through its observations (statement, remark, comment, opinion), the Court has reiterated (repeat, say again, restate, iterate, recapitulate) the basic principles of the rule of law — that there can be no punishment without trial (judicial/legal proceedings, hearing/inquiry, court case, legal action), no collective punishment (a form of sanction/ban imposed on persons or a group of persons in response to a crime committed by one of them or a member of the group), that every person is presumed (assume, suppose, expect, surmise, speculate, posit) innocent until proven guilty (culpable, at fault, accountable/responsible for misconduct), and that guilt cannot be ascribed (attribute, assign, connect/associate with) by association.

While this is mostly reassuring, it remains doubtful whether such judicial intervention (the process of intervening in something; involvement, interference) is sufficient to act as a deterrent (a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something; a means of preventing undesirable actions). For one (used to emphasize that a particular person holds a specific opinion, even if others may not share it), despite earlier disapproval (condemnation, criticism, censure, flak) of the bulldozing of property under the guise of (under the pretense or outward appearance of something; posture, semblance, (false) show/display) law enforcement, the practice has not only continued in Uttar Pradesh but has also spread to other States. Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled States have been eager adopters of this trend, but it has also found appeal (attraction) beyond partisan (biased, prejudiced, one-sided) lines. The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, for instance (as an example), recently resorted to property demolition as a tool (mechanism, instrument, apparatus) in its campaign (an organized effort that seeks to influence the decision-making process within a specific group) against the drug mafia. The apparent (obvious, evident, noticeable, conspicuous) social approval of state high-handedness in many situations is a troubling commentary (comments, opinions, remarks, reports, analysis) on collapsing standards of governance (administration). Mob lynching (an act of extrajudicial killing carried out by a mob; a violent form of mob justice where individuals are punished without due legal process) is a menace (a threat or danger; a source of potential harm, risk, or peril) the state is duty-bound to curb (to control or limit something, especially something bad; to restrain, restrict, check, rein in) with an iron fist; it is tragic when the state itself adopts tactics akin to (similar to, related to, comparable to, connected with, equivalent to) mob justice. The Supreme Court must ensure that its orders are implemented in letter and spirit (in both literal (exact written words) and true/intended (real) meaning or purpose of a law or rule) — consistently and throughout India.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.injustice (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अन्याय, नाइंसाफी
English Meaning - lack of justice, unfairness, misdeed, unjust/unfair act; inequity, partiality, one-sidedness, discrimination.

2.State (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य, सरकार
English Meaning - government.

3.Adopt (verb)

Hindi Meaning - अपनाना, स्वीकार करना
English Meaning - accept, agree, validate, support, back, endorse, approve, implement, embrace, espouse.

4.Mob (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भीड़, उपद्रवी भीड़
English Meaning - a large, disorganized, and often violent crowd of people.

5.Arbitrariness (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मनमानी
English Meaning - the quality of being “determined by personal chance, whim (desire), or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle”; irregularity, changeability, inconstancy, fickleness, volatility.

6.Bias (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पक्षपात, पूर्वाग्रह
English Meaning - prejudice, partiality, favouritism, unfairness, one-sidedness.

7.Law enforcement (noun)

Hindi Meaning - क़ानून प्रवर्तन, विधि प्रवर्तन
English Meaning - it describes the agencies and employees responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and managing public safety.

8.Undermine (verb)

Hindi Meaning - कमज़ोर करना, क्षति पहुँचाना
English Meaning - weaken, compromise, erode, sabotage, subvert, damage.

9.Rule of law (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - कानून का शासन
English Meaning - it is described as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards.

10.Decade (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दशक, दस वर्षों की अवधि
English Meaning - a period of ten years.

11.Growing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - बढ़ता हुआ, विकासशील
English Meaning - increasing.

12.Fundamental Rights (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मौलिक अधिकार
English Meaning - The Fundamental Rights, embodied in Part III of the Constitution, guarantee civil rights to all Indians and prevent the State from encroaching on an individual’s liberty while simultaneously placing upon it an obligation to protect the citizens’ rights from encroachment by society. Seven fundamental rights were originally provided by the Constitution - the right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, right to property, and right to constitutional remedies. However, the right to property was removed from Part III of the Constitution by the 44th Amendment in 1978.

13.Dignity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - गरिमा, स्वाभिमान
English Meaning - self-esteem, self-worth, self-respect, pride.

14.Alarming (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - चिंताजनक, भयावह
English Meaning - worrying, disturbing, shocking, distressing, terrifying, frightening, scary, intimidating.

15.Frequency (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आवृत्ति, बारंबारता
English Meaning - rate of occurrence; the condition of happening frequently during a particular period; rate, regularity, repetition.

16.High-handedness (noun)

English Meaning - heavy-handedness, arrogance, domineering action, overbearing behavior, imperiousness; autocracy, absolute power, totalitarianism.

17.Playbook (noun)

English Meaning - a set of strategies.

18.Brazen (adjective)

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

19.Enforcement (noun)

English Meaning - implementation, execution, imposition.

20.Fundamental rights (noun)

English Meaning - the basic rights provided by the constitution of a country to its citizens.

21.Extrajudicial (adjective)

English Meaning - out-of-court, private, unauthorized/unwarranted (by law).

22.Civic (adjective)

English Meaning - government, public, community, local.

23.Authorities (noun)

English Meaning - officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system.

24.Resort to (phrasal verb)

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

25.Extra-legal (adjective)

English Meaning - unauthorized by law; beyond the scope of legal authority.

26.Suspect (noun)

English Meaning - suspected person, accused.

27.Given (preposition)

English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

28.Glimmer of hope (phrase)

English Meaning - a faint sign or trace of hope or a fait hint of hope.

29.Bench (noun)

English Meaning - a court of law with a number of judges.

30.Constitution Bench (noun)

English Meaning - a bench of the Supreme Court having five or more judges on it. These benches are not a routine phenomenon. Constitution Benches are exceptions, set up only if some circumstances exist).

31.Division Bench (noun)

English Meaning - a bench of two or three judges is called a division bench.

32.Head (verb)

English Meaning - lead, be the leader of.

33.Conscience (noun)

English Meaning - moral sense, inner voice; values/principles.

34.Finding (noun)

English Meaning - A conclusion reached as a result of an inquiry, investigation, or trial; conclusion, result; decision, verdict.

35.Serve (verb)

English Meaning - present, provide, give out.

36.Show-cause notice (noun)

English Meaning - a notice/order asking an individual or group of persons to justify, explain, or prove something to the court/organisation.

37.In person (phrase)

English Meaning - directly, face to face, personally (not by telephone, email, or online).

38.Premises (noun)

English Meaning - building, property, site.

39.Appellant (noun)

English Meaning - litigator, litigant, petitioner, complainant, claimant, plaintiff.

40.High-handedly (adverb)

English Meaning - in an arrogant, domineering, or overbearing manner; oppressively or authoritatively.

41.Due process (phrase)

English Meaning - (equally and fairly) correct process; fair treatment (per established principles & procedures). ​

42.Development Authority (noun)

English Meaning - An organization or statutory body established by the government to oversee and promote urban planning and development within a specific area or region.

43.Article 21 of the Constitution of India (noun)

English Meaning - Protection of life and personal liberty. No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.

44.Observe (verb)

English Meaning - comment, remark, say, mention.

45.Compensation (noun)

English Meaning - payment, repayment, settlement (for loss/damage).

46.Observation (noun)

English Meaning - statement, remark, comment, opinion.

47.Reiterate (verb)

English Meaning - repeat, say again, restate, iterate, recapitulate.

48.Trial (noun)

English Meaning - judicial/legal proceedings, hearing/inquiry, court case, legal action.

49.Collective punishment (noun)

English Meaning - a form of sanction/ban imposed on persons or a group of persons in response to a crime committed by one of them or a member of the group.

50.Presume (verb)

English Meaning - assume, suppose, expect, surmise, speculate, posit.

51.Guilty (adjective)

English Meaning - culpable, at fault, accountable/responsible for misconduct.

52.Guilt (noun)

English Meaning - culpability, wrongdoing, blameworthiness.

53.Ascribe (verb)

English Meaning - attribute, assign, connect/associate with.

54.Reassuring (adjective)

English Meaning - encouraging, hopeful, optimistic, positive, heartening, promising.

55.Intervention (noun)

English Meaning - the process of intervening in something; involvement, interference.

56.Deterrent (noun)

English Meaning - a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something; a means of preventing undesirable actions.

57.For one (phrase)

English Meaning - used to emphasize that a particular person holds a specific opinion, even if others may not share it.

58.Disapproval (noun)

English Meaning - condemnation, criticism, censure, flak.

59.Under the guise of (phrase)

English Meaning - under the pretense or outward appearance of something; posture, semblance, (false) show/display.

60.Appeal (noun)

English Meaning - attraction.

61.Partisan (adjective)

English Meaning - biased, prejudiced, one-sided.

62.Pine (noun)

English Meaning - a row/group of people.

63.For instance (phrase)

English Meaning - as an example.

64.Tool (noun)

English Meaning - mechanism, instrument, apparatus.

65.Campaign (noun)

English Meaning - an organized effort that seeks to influence the decision-making process within a specific group.

66.Apparent (adjective)

English Meaning - obvious, evident, noticeable, conspicuous.

67.Commentary (noun)

English Meaning - comments, opinions, remarks, reports, analysis.

68.Governance (noun)

English Meaning - administration.

69.Mob lynching (noun)

English Meaning - an act of extrajudicial killing carried out by a mob; a violent form of mob justice where individuals are punished without due legal process.

70.Lynching (noun)

English Meaning - an act of punishing/killing someone by hanging for claimed offence by the group of people without legal trail.

71.Menace (noun)

English Meaning - a threat or danger; a source of potential harm, risk, or peril.

72.Duty-bound (adjective)

English Meaning - beholden, under an obligation, obliged, compelled, obligated to do something.

73.Curb (verb)

English Meaning - to control or limit something, especially something bad; to restrain, restrict, check, rein in.

74.Iron fist/hand (noun)

English Meaning - used in reference to the exercise of power with firmness.

75.Akin to (adjective)

English Meaning - similar to, related to, comparable to, connected with, equivalent to.

76.Mob justice (noun)

English Meaning - a situation in which a crowd of people (mob) takes the law into its own hands and punishes someone without legal authority or a fair trial, usually violently.

77.In letter and spirit (phrase)

English Meaning - in both literal (exact written words) and true/intended (real) meaning or purpose of a law or rule.