Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Rap on the knuckles: On lynching, mob violence and judiciary fiat

Rap on the knuckles: On lynching, mob violence and judiciary fiat

The Supreme Court has tried to hold States and Centre to account on mob violence

It is a matter of shame for the Union Government and several State governments that the Supreme Court has had to remind them of their “consistent failure” in the past five years to act against the lynching (वध करना) of and mob violence against Muslims and marginalised (अधिकारहीन करना, हाशिए पर डालना) sections by “cow vigilantes (सतर्क)” in particular. Following a petition by the National Federation of Indian Women highlighting this failure, the Court has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana to respond to it. In 2018, the Court, in Tehseen S. Poonawalla vs Union of India, had held that it was the “sacrosanct (पवित्र) duty” of the state to protect the lives of its citizens and that the authorities have the “principal obligation (दायित्व, कर्तव्य)” to prevent “vigilantism” of any kind. It had come up with guidelines which included the designation of a nodal [police] officer in each district, who, with the identification of districts/blocks/villages where mob violence and lynching have occurred in recent years, and the help of police intelligence, would work towards tackling such incidence in coordination with other government agencies. They were also to be aided by the initiative of the Home Ministry and State governments in sensitising (संवेदनशील बनाना) law enforcement officials and warning the public about the consequences of engaging in mob violence or vigilantism, among other measures.

That lynching, mob violence and “cow vigilantism” — an incorrect euphemism (A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word) for criminals engaging in wanton violence against minorities for the purported (अभिप्राय, अर्थ लगाना) reason of transporting cattle for slaughter or cattle meat — still happen since the judgment and little has been done by the Union government or the States in question, especially in north India, points to the nonchalance (उदासीनता, लापरवाही) of the governments. It does not take deductive powers to note that the ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre and in many of these States that allows for the stereotyping and demonising of the minorities has also played into this. Besides vigilantism, social and economic boycott of the minority community have also taken root in States where they receive political patronage. The Court is right in issuing orders to agencies of the state in holding them to account for the non-implementation of the guidelines in the 2018 judgment. However, it requires no less than concerted civil society action to tackle the menace of mob violence and “vigilantism” by sensitising people towards fraternal relations with other communities and avoiding typecasting them as the “other”. In Tamil Nadu, for example, where, historically, secular and rational movements were active, such incidents are rare. And if they do occur, dominant political representatives face outrage from civil society. Preventing atrocities of the kind that mob violence wreaks on ordinary citizens cannot be left to just judicial fiat.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Menance (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - ख़तरा या ख़तरे की आशंका
English Meaning - A danger or threat.

2.Lynch (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - वध करना
English Meaning - Extrajudicial killing by a group.

3.Fiat (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - आदेश, व्यवस्थापत्र
English Meaning - A forrmal authorization or proposition; a decree.

4.Marginalise (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - अधिकारहीन करना, हाशिए पर डालना
English Meaning - To treat someone or something as if they are not important.

5.Vigilante (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - सतर्क
English Meaning - One who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense.

6.Sacrosanct (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पवित्र
English Meaning - Too important, special, etc. to be questioned or changed.

7.Obligation (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - दायित्व, कर्तव्य
English Meaning - The fact that you are obliged to do something.

8.Nonchalance (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - उदासीनता, लापरवाही
English Meaning - Calm behaviour that suggests you are not interested or do not care.

9.Sensitise (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - संवेदनशील बनाना
English Meaning - Make sensitive or aware.

10.Purport (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - अभिप्राय, अर्थ लगाना
English Meaning - To present the appearance falsely.

11.Rap (Verb)

English Meaning - To strike with a sharp blow.

12.Euphemism (Noun)

English Meaning - A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word.