Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​No fetters: On Thug Life, extra-judicial bans

​No fetters: On Thug Life, extra-judicial bans

In Thug Life case, Court upholds (कायम रखना, समर्थन करना) certified films against extra-judicial bans

In ensuring the screening of the film Thug Life — thespian (actor/actress; artist, entertainer, performer) Kamal Haasan plays the lead role — in Karnataka, the Supreme Court of India has unequivocally (स्पष्ट रूप से) asserted (जोर देना, दावा करना) a fundamental free speech (मुक्त भाषण) principle that certified films cannot be stifled (दबाना, रोकना) by protests or a recourse (सहारा, विकल्प) to “hurt sentiments (भावना, विचार)”. Following Mr. Haasan’s comment (टिप्पणी) in a pre-launch event, that Kannada was born from Tamil (it is factually inaccurate as both languages have been known to share a proto-Dravidian ancestor (पूर्वज, आदिरूप)), the film has faced (सामना करना) an extra-judicial ban in Karnataka; the Karnataka High Court had suggested (सुझाव देना) that he apologise (क्षमा माँगना). The Supreme Court’s directions (निर्देश, आदेश) however repudiate (अस्वीकार करना) this “moral” position (stance, approach) taken by the High Court, bringing into focus the judiciary’s (a branch of government in which judicial power is vested) role as a guardian (protector, custodian, champion, defender) of due process. After the film was certified by the CBFC, there should be no fetters (बंधन, बेड़ियाँ) on its release, and, therefore, the extra-judicial (out-of court, private, unauthorized/unwarranted (by law)) ban violated (breach, break, infract, contravene, offend, transgress, go against) the rule of law (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). The film certification framework (structure, system, set-up), governed by the Cinematograph Act (The Cinematograph Act, 1952 (the Act), ensures that films fulfil the objectives prescribed by law. In the Act is a provision for the establishment of a Central Board of Film Certification (the Board). This is the regulatory body in India that issues a certificate to the makers of films for public exhibition), 1952 and its rules, is designed (plan, devise, develop, formulate, outline, create) to safeguard creativity, while maintaining a balance between constitutionally mandated (instructed, directed, ordered, required, made mandatory) free speech and reasonable restrictions. The CBFC, equipped (provide, arm, furnish) to vet (assess, evaluate, apprise, examine, inspect, review, scrutinize, censor) films with these legal standards, is solely (only, simply, just) tasked with doing so. Amorphous (unstructured, indeterminate, formless, shapeless, vague) groups claiming “hurt sentiments” to intimidate (frighten, threaten, scare, browbeat, unnerve, terrify, overawe, bully) a film’s release have no role in this. Giving in to such claims risks violating free speech rights and hurting the livelihoods (means of making a living with the basic necessities (food, water, shelter and clothing); means of support, subsistence, source of income) of actors, artists, technicians and workers. The top court rightly characterised (distinguish, set apart, indicate, denote, identify, specify) extra-judicial bans as a direct infringement (breach, contravention, violation, breaking, non-observance) on film-makers’ constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of speech (the right to express opinions without government interference) and expression.

By emphatically (decisively, resoundingly, conclusively, markedly, definitely) rejecting the extra-judicial ban, the Court has reiterated (say something again; say again, repeat, retell, restate, iterate, recapitulate) its positions that maintaining law and order (a condition in which the existing rules, regulations, norms and related legal codes are recognized and observed for the sustenance of peace, orderliness and security of lives and property in society) in the face of divergent (different, differing, varying, contradictory) views is the state’s (the government) responsibility. It is vital to understand that certified and regulated (governed, systematic; restricted, controlled, checked) freedom of speech, as assessed by the CBFC, is distinct (different, unassociated, unconnected, dissimilar, distinctive) from hate speech (abusive or disrespectful speech), which finds no constitutional (legitimate, official, legal, lawful) protection and can be legally restricted. This crucial distinction (difference, contrast, dissimilarity, variance) underscores that legitimate artistic expression, once cleared by the designated (appointed, assigned, delegated) authority (official, officialdom, the system), deserves (merit, warrant, justify, be worthy of) state protection. Moving forward (going forward, from now on, in the future), the Court’s directions should pave the way for (clear the way for, make preparations for, put things in order for) the state to provide institutional safeguards against unofficial bans overriding (overrule, cancel, quash, nullify, repeal, revoke, invalidate, reverse) the CBFC’s certification and release. These could include holding theatre owners accountable for unwarranted (unnecessary, unreasonable, unjustifiable, groundless, inappropriate, immoderate, inordinate, uncalled for) cancellations of scheduled (planned, expected, due, anticipated, slated, awaited) releases, policing guidelines that distinguish lawful dissent (opposition, objection, disapproval, disagreement, difference of opinion) from illegal intimidation and also allowing for citizens to watch a certified film without fear.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.fetter (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बंधन, बेड़ियाँ
English Meaning - restrains, constrains, restrictions, curbs; shackles, handcuffs, chains.

2.uphold (verb)

Hindi Meaning - कायम रखना, समर्थन करना
English Meaning - confirm, endorse, justify, approve, stand by, defend, vindicate, validate.

3.unequivocally (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - स्पष्ट रूप से
English Meaning - absolutely, directly, clearly, obviously, explicitly, definitely, conclusively, unquestionably, unconditionally, categorically, unambiguously, unqualifiedly, outright.

4.assert (verb)

Hindi Meaning - जोर देना, दावा करना
English Meaning - state, declare, insist , justify, pronounce, announce, posit, profess (strongly).

5.free speech (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मुक्त भाषण
English Meaning - the right to express one’s opinions publicly (without any restraint).

6.stifle (verb)

Hindi Meaning - दबाना, रोकना
English Meaning - constrain, restrain, prevent, hamper, impede, inhibit, repress.

7.recourse (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सहारा, विकल्प
English Meaning - option, choice, possibility/way out.

8.sentiment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भावना, विचार
English Meaning - feeling, point of view, thought, opinion.

9.comment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - टिप्पणी
English Meaning - remark, statement, opinion.

10.ancestor (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पूर्वज, आदिरूप
English Meaning - an early version of something.

11.face (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सामना करना
English Meaning - come across, run into, encounter, experience, meet.

12.suggest (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सुझाव देना
English Meaning - advise, recommend, put forward, propose, encourage, urge.

13.apologise (verb)

Hindi Meaning - क्षमा माँगना
English Meaning - say sorry, express regret, make an apology.

14.direction (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निर्देश, आदेश
English Meaning - command, order, instruction, recommendation, suggestion.

15.repudiate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - अस्वीकार करना
English Meaning - cancel, revoke, override, overrule, overturn, invalidate, nullify, ignore; reject, disavow, disown, discard, rebuff; oppose, resist, object, deny.

16.thespian (noun)

English Meaning - actor/actress; artist, entertainer, performer.

17.extra-judicial (adjective)

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

18.play a role or play a part (phrase)

English Meaning - have a part in, be involved in, be a factor in, contribute to, be instrumental in.

19.following (preposition)

English Meaning - after, subsequent to, in the wake of, as a result of, ensuing.

20.proto- (prefix)

English Meaning - first, foremost, or earliest form of.

21.position (noun)

English Meaning - stance, approach.

22.judiciary (noun)

English Meaning - a branch of government in which judicial power is vested.

23.guardian (noun)

English Meaning - protector, custodian, champion, defender.

24.due process (phrase)

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

25.Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) (noun)

English Meaning - It is a statutory film-certification body in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India. It is tasked with “regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952.

26.violate (verb)

English Meaning - breach, break, infract, contravene, offend, transgress, go against.

27.rule of law (noun phrase)

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.

28.framework (noun)

English Meaning - structure, system, set-up.

29.the Cinematograph Act (noun)

English Meaning - The Cinematograph Act, 1952 (the Act), ensures that films fulfil the objectives prescribed by law. In the Act is a provision for the establishment of a Central Board of Film Certification (the Board). This is the regulatory body in India that issues a certificate to the makers of films for public exhibition.

30.design (verb)

English Meaning - plan, devise, develop, formulate, outline, create.

31.mandated (verb)

English Meaning - instructed, directed, ordered, required, made mandatory.

32.equip (verb)

English Meaning - provide, arm, furnish.

33.vet (verb)

English Meaning - assess, evaluate, apprise, examine, inspect, review, scrutinize, censor.

34.solely (adverb)

English Meaning - only, simply, just.

35.task with (verb)

English Meaning - assign a task/job to.

36.amorphous (adjective)

English Meaning - unstructured, indeterminate, formless, shapeless, vague.

37.intimidate (verb)

English Meaning - frighten, threaten, scare, browbeat, unnerve, terrify, overawe, bully.

38.give in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - surrender, give up, capitulate, yield, submit, back down.

39.livelihood (noun)

English Meaning - means of making a living with the basic necessities (food, water, shelter and clothing); means of support, subsistence, source of income.

40.characterise (verb)

English Meaning - distinguish, set apart, indicate, denote, identify, specify.

41.infringement (noun)

English Meaning - breach, contravention, violation, breaking, non-observance.

42.freedom of speech (noun)

English Meaning - the right to express opinions without government interference.

43.freedom of expression (noun)

English Meaning - the ability of an individual or group of individuals to express their beliefs, thoughts, ideas, and emotions about different issues free from government censorship, restraint, or legal penalty.

44.emphatically (adverb)

English Meaning - decisively, resoundingly, conclusively, markedly, definitely.

45.reiterate (verb)

English Meaning - say something again; say again, repeat, retell, restate, iterate, recapitulate.

46.law and order (noun)

English Meaning - a condition in which the existing rules, regulations, norms and related legal codes are recognized and observed for the sustenance of peace, orderliness and security of lives and property in society.

47.in the face of (phrase)

English Meaning - despite, notwithstanding, regardless of; when confronted with.

48.divergent (adjective)

English Meaning - different, differing, varying, contradictory.

49.the state (noun)

English Meaning - the government.

50.regulated (adjective)

English Meaning - governed, systematic; restricted, controlled, checked.

51.distinct (adjective)

English Meaning - different, unassociated, unconnected, dissimilar, distinctive.

52.hate speech (noun)

English Meaning - abusive or disrespectful speech.

53.constitutional (adjective)

English Meaning - legitimate, official, legal, lawful.

54.distinction (noun)

English Meaning - difference, contrast, dissimilarity, variance.

55.underline (verb)

English Meaning -underscore, emphasise, highlight, stress, call/draw attention to.

56.legitimate (adjective)

English Meaning - legal, lawful; valid, reasonable, reliable.

57.designated (adjective)

English Meaning - appointed, assigned, delegated.

58.authority (noun)

English Meaning - official, officialdom, the system.

59.deserve (verb)

English Meaning - merit, warrant, justify, be worthy of.

60.moving forward (phrase)

English Meaning - going forward, from now on, in the future.

61.pave the way for (phrase)

English Meaning - clear the way for, make preparations for, put things in order for.

62.override (verb)

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

63.hold accountable for (phrase)

English Meaning - to say that someone should accept the responsibility for something.

64.hold someone accountable for (phrase)

English Meaning - to consider someone responsible for something; blame someone for something.

65.unwarranted (adjective)

English Meaning - unnecessary, unreasonable, unjustifiable, groundless, inappropriate, immoderate, inordinate, uncalled for.

66.scheduled (adjective)

English Meaning - planned, expected, due, anticipated, slated, awaited.

67.police (verb)

English Meaning - regulate, control, check.

68.dissent (noun)

English Meaning - opposition, objection, disapproval, disagreement, difference of opinion.