Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Lawfare politics: On the bills for political probity

​Lawfare politics: On the bills for political probity

Federal principles must not be undermined in the name of improving probity (ईमानदारी, सत्यनिष्ठा)

Three bills, including one for a constitutional amendment, introduced hurriedly (जल्दी से, शीघ्रता से) by the Centre towards the end of the Parliament session, are purportedly (कथित रूप से) meant to improve probity and accountability (जवाबदेही, उत्तरदायित्व) for the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Ministers. They will lose their position (पद, ओहदा) if any of them is detained (हिरासत में लेना) by a law enforcement agency (कानून प्रवर्तन एजेंसियाँ) in connection with (के संबंध में) an offence (अपराध, जुर्म) that is punishable with imprisonment (कारावास, कैद) of five years or more. Upon acquittal (दोषमुक्ति), they could return. Any objective observer (पर्यवेक्षक, दर्शक) would be sceptical (संशयवादी, संदेहपूर्ण) of the stated intent (इरादा, उद्देश्य) of these proposals. The concern expressed by the Opposition and legal minds (legal expert) that the proposals open a new avenue (a possible way of achieving something; approach, method, path, direction, course of action) for concentration of power with the Centre is legitimate (valid, reasonable, reliable). The claim (affirmation, assertion, contention, profession, declaration) that the proposed legal regime (system) applies equally to the Prime Minister too is weak, considering (bearing in mind, taking into consideration, taking into account, in view of, in the light of; all things considered) the fact that (used to refer to a specific situation under consideration/discussion) all investigative agencies are under the administrative control of the Centre. No central agency will ever detain a Prime Minister; but they have already arrested several Opposition Chief Ministers. When viewed against the backdrop (situation, background, scenario, context) of the pattern of the functioning (activity, behavior, duty, performance; operating/working method) of central agencies, such as the Enforcement Directorate (Directorate of Enforcement is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It was established in the year 1956 with its Headquarters at New Delhi. It is responsible for enforcement of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) (Civil Law) and certain provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) (Criminal Law)) and the Central Bureau of Investigation, the real intent of the new proposals by the Centre appears to be to empower (authorize, accredit, allow, permit, entitle) itself with sweeping (extensive, comprehensive, all-inclusive, all-embracing, far-reaching; total, complete, unconditional, unrestricted) and arbitrary powers (tyranny, dictatorship, totalitarianism, fascism, autocracy), which can be used against political rivals (opponent, competitor, contender, challenger, contestant, enemy, foe, adversary, nemesis).

The police are eager (keen, interested) to arrest. The increasing difficulty in obtaining bail (conditional, temporary release of an arrested/imprisoned person when a specified amount of security is deposited or pledged (as cash or property) to ensure his/her appearance in court when required) due to harsh (strict, stern, rigorous, stringent) provisions in laws such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India), as well as a judicial diffidence (self-doubt, apprehension, uncertainty, hesitancy, nervousness, insecurity, uneasiness, embarrassment) in granting bail is making liberty (freedom) disturbingly (unsettlingly, disconcertingly, worryingly) dispensable. Corruption is dangerous for a society, but combating it cannot be at the cost of (at the loss of something; with the sacrifice of something) the principles of justice. Corruption prosecutions (legal action/trail, legal proceeding, litigation) have attained (reach, accomplish, achieve, arrive at, establish) an unmistakable (unambiguous, incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable, undeniable unquestionable; clear, crystal clear, well defined, explicit, categorical, outright, certain, decisive) political character (nature, tone, colour) in recent years. The pattern of an individual being a target of investigation when in the Opposition, but no longer (never again, not any more) once he or she switches (change) sides to the Bharatiya Janata Party is noticeable. If the new proposals are enacted into law, an elected official can be removed from office by mere (only, just, no more than) police action, and without a fair (just, honest, impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced, non-partisan) trial, not to mention (in addition to, as well as, besides, let alone) a judicial conviction (sentence, judgement, verdict). Considering the certainty (assurance, conviction, reliability, sureness) that this will, in practice (practically, actually, realistically, in reality), only apply to State/Union Territory governments, it will also be a violation (breach, contravention, infringement, breaking, non-observance) of federal principles. It is not a mere coincidence (co-occurrence, coexistence, simultaneity; concurrence, similarity, correlation) that the Centre is seeking (try, aim, attempt) to invest in (promote, back, grant, award, contribute, subscribe) State Governors a veto (a right/power to reject a decision/proposal; rejection, dismissal, denial, ban, prohibition) over any and all (all without exception) decisions of elected legislatures (law-making body or governing body; parliament, congress, council, assembly). The existing laws provide for the removal from office of elected officials (authorities, bureaucracy, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the regime/system, corridors of power) who are convicted (declare/find/pronounce guilty; give someone a sentence) in cases as defined in the new proposals. These proposals amount to (suggest, indicate, point to, signify, denote, signal) holding someone guilty until proven innocent (not-guilty, honest), and also dishonouring (lower, damage, tarnish, bring shame to, humiliate, blacken the name of) the verdict of the people who elected them.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.probity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - ईमानदारी, सत्यनिष्ठा
English Meaning - integrity, morality, honesty, fairness, equity, ethics; righteousness, uprightness, goodness.

2.hurriedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - जल्दी से, शीघ्रता से
English Meaning - quickly, hastily, rapidly, swiftly, in a hurry.

3.purportedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कथित रूप से
English Meaning - supposedly, seemingly, apparently, allegedly, professedly, ostensibly, reportedly. ​

4.accountability (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जवाबदेही, उत्तरदायित्व
English Meaning - responsibility, liability, answerability.

5.position (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पद, ओहदा
English Meaning - job, post, occupation, office.

6.detain (verb)

Hindi Meaning - हिरासत में लेना
English Meaning - arrest, imprison, incarcerate, apprehend, lock up, confine, put behind bars.

7.enforcement (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रवर्तन, लागू करना
English Meaning - imposition, implementation, execution.

8.law enforcement agencies (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कानून प्रवर्तन एजेंसियाँ
English Meaning - a government agency responsible for enforcing the law. For example - Police, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and etc.

9.in connection with (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के संबंध में
English Meaning - regarding, concerning, with reference to, with respect to, with regard to, in relation to.

10.offence (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अपराध, जुर्म
English Meaning - crime, illegal/unlawful act, wrongdoing.

11.imprisonment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कारावास, कैद
English Meaning - incarceration, captivity, custody, arrest, restraint, confinement, internment, detention.

12.acquittal (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दोषमुक्ति
English Meaning - declaration of innocence, clearing, discharge, release, vindication, exoneration.

13.observer (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पर्यवेक्षक, दर्शक
English Meaning - viewer, spectator, watcher, bystander.

14.sceptical (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संशयवादी, संदेहपूर्ण
English Meaning - dubious, cynical, doubtful, distrustful, mistrustful, suspicious, disbelieving, questioning, unconvinced, having reservations.

15.intent (noun)

Hindi Meaning - इरादा, उद्देश्य
English Meaning - intention, aim, purpose, objective, target.

16.stated (adjective)

English Meaning - said, expressed, articulated, described, worded, specified, mentioned.

17.proposal (noun)

English Meaning - scheme, plan, submission, motion.

18.lawfare (noun)

English Meaning - the use of legal systems and institutions to threaten/damage an opponent.

19.Bill (noun)

English Meaning - A Bill is a draft statute that becomes law after it is passed by both the Houses of Parliament and assented to by the President. All legislative proposals are brought before Parliament in the forms of Bills (or) draft statute/law, proposed legislation, proposal (presented to parliament/congress/council for discussion).

20.law enforcement (noun)

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

21.objective (adjective)

English Meaning - factual, actual, real, genuine, verifiable, demonstrable, provable, empirical, reasonable

22.legal mind (noun)

English Meaning - legal expert.

23.avenue (noun)

English Meaning - a possible way of achieving something; approach, method, path, direction, course of action.

24.legitimate (adjective)

English Meaning - valid, reasonable, reliable.

25.claim (noun)

English Meaning - affirmation, assertion, contention, profession, declaration.

26.regime (noun)

English Meaning - system.

27.considering (preposition)

English Meaning - bearing in mind, taking into consideration, taking into account, in view of, in the light of; all things considered.

28.the fact that (phrase)

English Meaning - used to refer to a specific situation under consideration/discussion.

29.central investigative agencies (noun)

English Meaning - India has a number of investigative agencies like The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), The National Investigation Agency (NIA), The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and others.

30.backdrop (noun)

English Meaning - situation, background, scenario, context.

31.functioning (noun)

English Meaning - activity, behavior, duty, performance; operating/working method.

32.Enforcement Directorate (ED) (noun)

English Meaning - Directorate of Enforcement is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It was established in the year 1956 with its Headquarters at New Delhi. It is responsible for enforcement of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) (Civil Law) and certain provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) (Criminal Law).

33.empower (verb)

English Meaning - authorize, accredit, allow, permit, entitle.

34.sweeping (adjective)

English Meaning - extensive, comprehensive, all-inclusive, all-embracing, far-reaching; total, complete, unconditional, unrestricted.

35.arbitrary (adjective)

English Meaning - tyrannical, autocratic, dictatorial, authoritarian, draconian, anti-democratic.

36.arbitrary (adjective)

English Meaning - capricious, personal (whim/choice), capricious, whimsical, random, erratic, unreasonable, irrational, illogical, groundless, unjustifiable, discretionary, subjective.

37.arbitrary power (noun)

English Meaning - tyranny, dictatorship, totalitarianism, fascism, autocracy.

38.rival noun)

English Meaning - opponent, competitor, contender, challenger, contestant, enemy, foe, adversary, nemesis.

39.eager (adjective)

English Meaning - keen, interested.

40.bail (noun)

English Meaning - conditional, temporary release of an arrested/imprisoned person when a specified amount of security is deposited or pledged (as cash or property) to ensure his/her appearance in court when required.

41.due to (phrase)

English Meaning - because of, as a result of, thanks to, on account of, owing to.

42.harsh (adjective)

English Meaning - strict, stern, rigorous, stringent.

43.provision (noun)

English Meaning - clause, (legal) term, stipulation, requirement, condition.

44.Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA) , 2002 (noun)

English Meaning - It is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted by the NDA government to prevent money-laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from money-laundering.

45.Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) (noun)

English Meaning - an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.

46.diffidence (noun)

English Meaning - self-doubt, apprehension, uncertainty, hesitancy, nervousness, insecurity, uneasiness, embarrassment.

47.liberty (noun)

English Meaning - freedom.

48.disturbingly (adverb)

English Meaning - unsettlingly, disconcertingly, worryingly.

49.dispensable (adjective)

English Meaning - unnecessary, not required, inessential, unessential, needless, unneeded, uncalled for, unwanted, useless, redundant, superfluous

50.at the cost of (phrase)

English Meaning - at the loss of something; with the sacrifice of something.

51.prosecution (noun)

English Meaning - legal action/trail, legal proceeding, litigation.

52.attain (verb)

English Meaning - reach, accomplish, achieve, arrive at, establish.

53.unmistakable (adjective)

English Meaning - unambiguous, incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable, undeniable unquestionable; clear, crystal clear, well defined, explicit, categorical, outright, certain, decisive.

54.character (noun)

English Meaning - nature, tone, colour.

55.no longer (phrase)

English Meaning - never again, not any more.

56.switch (verb)

English Meaning - change.

57.officials (noun)

English Meaning - authorities, bureaucracy, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the regime/system, corridors of power.

58.mere (adjective)

English Meaning - only, just, no more than.

59.fair (adjective)

English Meaning - just, honest, impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced, non-partisan.

60.trial (noun)

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

61.not to mention (phrase)

English Meaning - in addition to, as well as, besides, let alone.

62.conviction (noun)

English Meaning - sentence, judgement, verdict.

63.certainty (noun)

English Meaning - assurance, conviction, reliability, sureness.

64.in practice (phrase)

English Meaning - practically, actually, realistically, in reality.

65.violation (noun)

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

66.federalism/federal framework/system (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government in which establishments such as states or provinces share power with a national government.

67.coincidence (noun)

English Meaning - co-occurrence, coexistence, simultaneity; concurrence, similarity, correlation.

68.seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

69.invest in (phrase)

English Meaning - promote, back, grant, award, contribute, subscribe.

70.veto (noun)

English Meaning - a right/power to reject a decision/proposal; rejection, dismissal, denial, ban, prohibition.

71.any and all (phrase)

English Meaning - all without exception

72.legislature (noun)

English Meaning - law-making body or governing body; parliament, congress, council, assembly.

73.the legislature (noun)

English Meaning - the House; a deliberative body of persons, usually elective, who are empowered to make, change, or repeal the laws of a country or state. India follows a bicameral (two chambers/parts) system at both the centre and state level.

74.convict (verb)

English Meaning - declare/find/pronounce guilty; give someone a sentence.

75.amount to (verb)

English Meaning - suggest, indicate, point to, signify, denote, signal.

76.hold (verb)

English Meaning - decide.

77.find/hold guilty (phrase)

English Meaning - declare guilty, convict, sentence.

78.innocent (adjective)

English Meaning - not-guilty, honest.

79.dishonour (verb)

English Meaning - lower, damage, tarnish, bring shame to, humiliate, blacken the name of.