Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Legal milestone: The Supreme Court and the Tamil Nadu Governor

​Legal milestone: The Supreme Court and the Tamil Nadu Governor

Cooperative (सहकारी, सहयोगी) federalism must guide conduct of Governors

The Supreme Court’s judgment on the conduct of Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi is set to have a far-reaching impact on Centre-State relations, underscoring as it does India’s federal principles in what are undoubtedly fraught (Filled with something undesirable like danger, tension, or anxiety) times. The verdict enhances the administrative autonomy (स्वायत्तता, स्वतंत्रता) of States, and regulates the functioning of constitutional offices, with implications (निहितार्थ, परिणाम, संभावित असर) for the entire country. In the case which concerns Mr. Ravi’s handling of 10 Bills passed by the State Assembly, the Court has effectively changed how Governors carry out their constitutional responsibilities. The intervention (हस्तक्षेप) comes at a time when tensions between Governors and governments in States ruled by parties other than the BJP have peaked — especially over issues such as the appointment of Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) to State-run universities, where Governors serve as Chancellors. It is no coincidence that the Bills at the heart of the case sought to replace the Governor with the State government as the authority for appointing V-Cs. Mr. Ravi had forwarded these Bills to President Droupadi Murmu after they were re-adopted by the State Assembly. The Court held that the Bills were deemed to have received assent. It described the Governor’s action of referring the Bills to the President as “not bona fide”, and his conduct as “arbitrary (मनमाना, विवेकाधीन), non est, and erroneous in law” — language that resembled a performance appraisal of the gubernatorial (राज्यपाल-संबंधी) office. In normal circumstances, such a severe reprimand (फटकार, तिरस्कार) would have resulted in the resignation of the person whose conduct was under scrutiny: Mr. Ravi. But these are not normal circumstances, and Mr. Ravi was certainly playing the politically partisan role assigned to him by the government at the Centre, led by the BJP, which is inimically (शत्रुतापूर्ण ढंग से, हानिकारक रूप से) disposed to the DMK that is in power in Tamil Nadu. Hindrance was the strategy.

The significance of the judgment goes beyond the censure of a particular Governor. It lays down definite timelines for Governors to act on Bills. It ensures that Governors can no longer indefinitely delay legislation under the pretext of scrutiny or act whimsically (Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing or amusing way) or with impunity (दण्ड मुक्ति). The Court has reaffirmed a constitutional principle that has often been undermined: that Raj Bhavans must function with transparency, and accountability. With the legislation now in force, the Tamil Nadu government has the authority to appoint Vice-Chancellors and must act swiftly to fill these vacancies in 12 universities. The DMK government should ensure that these appointments are made based on merit, integrity, and competence — especially considering past allegations of corruption in V-C appointments. This judgment is not merely a legal milestone (मील का पत्थर); it is a call for constitutional morality and cooperative federalism, and restoration of dignity to the office of the Governor, who, as the Court pointed out, is expected to act as friend, philosopher, and guide to the State Cabinet, and not as a blunt instrument of the Centre.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Milestone (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - मील का पत्थर
English Meaning - A significant event or stage in life, progress, or development.

2.Cooperative (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सहकारी, सहयोगी
English Meaning - Willing to work together or assist others.

3.Autonomy (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्वायत्तता, स्वतंत्रता
English Meaning - The right or condition of self-government or independence.

4.Implication (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - निहितार्थ, परिणाम, संभावित असर
English Meaning - A possible effect or result of an action or decision.

5.Intervention (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - हस्तक्षेप
English Meaning - The action of interfering or becoming involved to alter an outcome.

6.Arbitrary (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - मनमाना, विवेकाधीन
English Meaning - Based on personal choice rather than reason or system.

7.Gubernatorial (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - राज्यपाल-संबंधी
English Meaning - Relating to a state governor or the office of governor.

8.Reprimand (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - फटकार, तिरस्कार
English Meaning - A formal expression of disapproval.

9.Inimically (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - शत्रुतापूर्ण ढंग से, हानिकारक रूप से
English Meaning - In a harmful, hostile, or unfriendly manner.

10.Impunity (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - दण्ड मुक्ति
English Meaning - Exemption from punishment or freedom from consequences.

11.Fraught (Adjective)

English Meaning - Filled with something undesirable like danger, tension, or anxiety.

12.Whimsical (Adjective)

English Meaning - Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing or amusing way.