Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Wrong route: On Kerala Lok Ayukta law

Wrong route: On Kerala Lok Ayukta law

Kerala’s move (कदम, क्रिया, उपाय) to dilute (कमज़ोर करना, कम करना, घटाना) the Lok Ayukta law through an ordinance (अध्यादेश, शासन) is questionable

The Kerala government’s proposal (प्रस्ताव, योजना, दृष्टिकोण) to amend its Lok Ayukta Act through an ordinance appears questionable and hasty (hurried, rapid/quick; reckless, ill-considered, ill-advised). Even though the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government is citing (refer to, adduce, make reference to, invoke) legal opinion to justify the proposed amendments, it does give an impression (प्रभाव, भावना, धारणा) that it is in an unseemly (अनुचित, अयोग्य, अशोभनीय) hurry (जल्दबाजी, तात्कालिकता) to remove the finality (अन्तिमता, निश्चयात्मकता) attached to a provision (प्रावधान, अवधि, खंड, आवश्यकता) that allows the anti-corruption judicial body to direct (सीधे, निर्देश देना, बताना) a public servant to vacate office, if an allegation (आरोप, अभियोग) is substantiated (सिद्ध करना, साबित करना, पुष्टि करना). The criticism by the Opposition that the change may dilute the Lok Ayukta law appears valid, as Section 14 of the Lok Ayukta Act is its most stringent (कठोर, सख्त) provision. Both the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the BJP have appealed to the Governor not to promulgate (घोषणा करना, लागू करना) the ordinance cleared (pass, accept, authorize, endorse, sanction, give approval to) by the Cabinet. Opposition parties have suggested that the proposal may be linked to ongoing inquiries by the Lok Ayukta against members of the Cabinet. Also, the present regime has been adversely (unfavourably, disadvantageously, badly) affected by this particular provision. In April 2021, Minister for Higher Education and Minority Welfare K.T. Jaleel had to resign after the Lok Ayukta found him guilty (culpable, blameworthy, at fault, in the wrong, responsible) of nepotism (favouritism, preferential treatment, patronage/partiality). The present regime (government) seems to have realised only after this episode (incident, event, occurrence) the implications (consequence/outcome, ramification, repercussion) of the binding (irrevocable, unalterable, unbreakable, permanent; compulsory, obligatory, imperative, mandatory, necessary) nature of the Lok Ayukta’s ‘declaration’ that a public servant, against whom an allegation is substantiated, should not continue to hold office. It is strange (unusual, weird, abnormal, atypical) that the Government now says the section is unconstitutional (undemocratic, autocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian) when it could have been challenged by Mr. Jaleel himself.

The Government has defended (justify, vindicate, support, speak in support of) the proposed ordinance on the ground (reason, cause, basis, factor) that the section amounts to removal of a Minister duly (properly, correctly, rightly) appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and violates (breach, contravene, fail to comply with) Articles 163 and 164 of the Constitution. Further, there is no provision for appeal. It proposes to amend it to the effect that (refering to the general meaning of something (spoken/written)) the Governor, the government or authority (The Chief Minister (in this context)) may decide on the Lok Ayukta’s finding (conclusion, decision, verdict, recommendation) within three months. It also seeks to provide for an appeal. While these are valid points, there is room (scope, leeway, latitude; opportunity, chance) to question the adoption (selection, choosing, choice; (approval, passing, endorsement, acceptance, ratification, validation)) of the ordinance route. It is also curious (strange/unusual, unconventional, surprising) that the provision is now considered unconstitutional when it was an earlier LDF regime headed by E.K. Nayanar that enacted (make law, pass, approve, ratify) the law in 1999. The legislation (body of laws, acts, rules, regulations, statutes) was quite ahead of its time, as it envisaged removal of a public servant from office following an adverse (dangerous, harmful, detrimental, unhealthy; unfavourable, disadvantageous, bad) judicial finding long before the Supreme Court paved the way for (clear the way for, make preparations for, put things in order for) automatic (inevitable, unavoidable, inescapable, unpreventable, necessary) disqualification of an elected representative upon conviction. It was only in 2013 that the apex court struck down a clause in election law that saved a serving legislator (a member of a legislature (parliament/legislative assembly); lawmaker, representative) from disqualification following conviction until an appeal was filed and disposed of (throw away, throw out, get rid of, do away with, discard). A regime truly disposed towards corruption-free governance should not normally be worried about a law that allows an independent judicial forum (court of law, law court, bench, bar, court of justice, tribunal) to direct a public servant to leave office. If it has well-founded (justifiable, legitimate, defensible, sustainable) reservations (doubt, qualm; objection, misgivings, scepticism) about the process, it should not be chary (careful, cautious, wary/circumspect) of introducing relevant (pertinent, applicable, appropriate, suitable, related) amendments in the Assembly.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 (noun)

Hindi Meaning - लोकपाल और लोकायुक्त अधिनियम, 2013
English Meaning - An Act to provide for the establishment of a body of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

2.move (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कदम, क्रिया, उपाय
English Meaning - step, action, measure.

3.dilute (verb)

Hindi Meaning - कमज़ोर करना, कम करना, घटाना
English Meaning - diminish, reduce, decrease, lessen, (the value of something).

4.ordinance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अध्यादेश, शासन
English Meaning - order, rule, ruling, directive, decree, law.

5.proposal (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रस्ताव, योजना, दृष्टिकोण
English Meaning - plan, motion, approach, suggestion, recommendation.

6.impression (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रभाव, भावना, धारणा
English Meaning - feeling, notion, idea, thought, opinion.

7.unseemly (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अनुचित, अयोग्य, अशोभनीय
English Meaning - improper, inappropriate, undignified; ill-advised.

8.hurry (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जल्दबाजी, तात्कालिकता
English Meaning - haste, urgency, importance, top priority.

9.finality (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अन्तिमता, निश्चयात्मकता
English Meaning - the quality of being final or definitely settled irreversibly; completeness, decisiveness.

10.provision (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रावधान, अवधि, खंड, आवश्यकता
English Meaning - term, clause, requirement, specification, stipulation.

11.direct (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सीधे, निर्देश देना, बताना
English Meaning - instruct, tell, command, order.

12.allegation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आरोप, अभियोग
English Meaning - charge, accusation, indictment.

13.substantiate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सिद्ध करना, साबित करना, पुष्टि करना
English Meaning - prove, confirm, demonstrate, show to be true; justify, vindicate.

14.stringent (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कठोर, सख्त
English Meaning - strict, severe, extreme, rigorous.

15.promulgate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - घोषणा करना, लागू करना
English Meaning - put into effect, enact, pass, implement, enforce.

16.The Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999 (noun)

English Meaning - An Act to make provision for the appointment and functions of certain authorities for making enquiries into any action (including any omission and commission in connection with or arising out of such action) relatable to matters specified in List II or List III of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India taken by or on behalf of the Government of Kerala or certain public authorities in the State of Kerala in certain cases and for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto.

17.hasty (adjective)

English Meaning - hurried, rapid/quick; reckless, ill-considered, ill-advised.

18.cite (verb)

English Meaning - refer to, adduce, make reference to, invoke.

19.Section 14 of the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act (noun)

English Meaning - The sub-section (1) of section 14 empowers the Lokayukta or an Upa Lokayukta to make a declaration in its report that a public servant against whom a complaint is made should not continue to hold that post if the allegation is substantiated. “Where the competent authority is the governor, the government of Kerala or the CM, he or it shall accept the declaration,” it states.

20.clear (verb)

English Meaning - pass, accept, authorize, endorse, sanction, give approval to.

21.ongoing (adjective)

English Meaning - current, existing, continuing.

22.regime (noun)

English Meaning - government.

23.adversely (adverb)

English Meaning - unfavourably, disadvantageously, badly.

24.guilty (adjective)

English Meaning - culpable, blameworthy, at fault, in the wrong, responsible.

25.nepotism (noun)

English Meaning - favouritism, preferential treatment, patronage/partiality.

26.episode (noun)

English Meaning - incident, event, occurrence.

27.implications (noun)

English Meaning - consequence/outcome, ramification, repercussion.

28.binding (adjective)

English Meaning - irrevocable, unalterable, unbreakable, permanent; compulsory, obligatory, imperative, mandatory, necessary

29.strange (adjective)

English Meaning - unusual, weird, abnormal, atypical.

30.unconstitutional (adjective)

English Meaning - undemocratic, autocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian.

31.defend (verb)

English Meaning - justify, vindicate, support, speak in support of.

32.ground (noun)

English Meaning - reason, cause, basis, factor.

33.amount to (verb)

English Meaning - be equal to, be equivalent to, be tantamount to, represent.

34.duly (adjective)

English Meaning - properly, correctly, rightly.

35.violate (verb)

English Meaning - breach, contravene, fail to comply with.

36.Article 163 of the Constitution of India (noun)

English Meaning - It deals with “Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor”

37.Article 164 of the Constitution of India (noun)

English Meaning - It deals with “Other provisions as to Ministers” (“as to” means “concerning or with respect to”)

38.to the effect that (phrase)

English Meaning - refering to the general meaning of something (spoken/written).

39.authority (noun)

English Meaning - The Chief Minister (in this context).

40.finding (noun)

English Meaning - conclusion, decision, verdict, recommendation.

41.decide on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - choose, opt for, select, go for, settle on.

42.sought past tense of seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt; ask for, request, appeal for.

43.appeal (noun)

English Meaning - retrial, reconsideration, re-examination.

44.room (noun)

English Meaning - scope, leeway, latitude; opportunity, chance.

45.adoption (noun)

English Meaning - selection, choosing, choice; (approval, passing, endorsement, acceptance, ratification, validation).

46.curious (adjective)

English Meaning - strange/unusual, unconventional, surprising.

47.enact (verb)

English Meaning - make law, pass, approve, ratify.

48.legislation (noun)

English Meaning - body of laws, acts, rules, regulations, statutes.

49.ahead of one’s time (phrase)

English Meaning - revolutionary, futuristic, innovative, trailblazing, pioneering, groundbreaking, disruptive.

50.envisage (verb)

English Meaning - expect, intend, propose, envision, contemplate.

51.adverse (adjective)

English Meaning - dangerous, harmful, detrimental, unhealthy; unfavourable, disadvantageous, bad.

52.pave the way for (phrase)

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

53.automatic (adjective)

English Meaning - inevitable, unavoidable, inescapable, unpreventable, necessary.

54.conviction (noun)

English Meaning - declaration of guilt, pronouncement of guilt, sentence, judgement.

55.strike down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - abolish, annul, nullify (a law or regulation).

56.clause (noun)

English Meaning - section, point, requirement, condition, provision.

57.legislator (noun)

English Meaning - a member of a legislature (parliament/legislative assembly); lawmaker, representative.

58.dispose of (verb)

English Meaning - throw away, throw out, get rid of, do away with, discard.

59.dispose towards (verb)

English Meaning - incline, encourage, prompt, induce, inspire, motivate.

60.governance (noun)

English Meaning - the act of governing something; administration.

61.forum (noun)

English Meaning - court of law, law court, bench, bar, court of justice, tribunal.

62.well-founded (adjective)

English Meaning - justifiable, legitimate, defensible, sustainable.

63.reservation (noun)

English Meaning - doubt, qualm; objection, misgivings, scepticism.

64.chary (adjective)

English Meaning - careful, cautious, wary/circumspect.

65.relevant (adjective)

English Meaning - pertinent, applicable, appropriate, suitable, related.