Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Relief, at last: On bail to journalist Siddique Kappan

Relief, at last: On bail to journalist Siddique Kappan

The Supreme Court has exposed (खुलासा, प्रकट करना, दिखाना) the tenuous nature of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act case against journalist Kappan

Even for a system in which foisting (थोपना, बल देना, जोर लगाना) of false cases is not uncommon, the prolonged (लंबा, बढ़ा हुआ) imprisonment (incarceration, custody, detention, confinement, prison) of journalist Siddique Kappan in Uttar Pradesh was quite an egregiously (आक्रामक रूप से, भयानक रूप से) malevolent (द्वेषपूर्ण, दुर्भावनापूर्ण, घातक) instance. In directing his release on bail (जमानत), subject to (का विषय है, पर निर्भर) conditions that are not onerous (कष्टदायक, कठिन), the Supreme Court has rightly bypassed the bail-denying feature of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by posing pertinent (उचित, उपयुक्त, संबंधित) questions and concluding that there was no reason for keeping him in custody any further. Mr. Kappan was arrested in October 2020 while he was on his way to Hathras, where a Dalit girl had been gang-raped and murdered. In a baffling (चौंकाने वाला, हैरान करने वाला) move that could only be explained as an attempt to divert attention from the public outcry (चिल्लाहट, विरोध, शिकायत) caused by the incident and float a conspiracy (साजिश, षड़यंत्र) theory with communal overtones (hidden meaning, connotation, implication, feeling, intimation), he was charged (accuse of, blame for, indict for, prosecute for, try for) with plotting a divisive (बांटनेवाला, अलग करना) campaign (अभियान) in the area. And to ensure that he was kept in prison for a long time, the police invoked (cite, refer to, adduce, use, put into effect, turn to, resort to) provisions (प्रावधान, शर्त) of the anti-terror law — ones that related to raising funds for a terrorist act and a conspiracy to commit it — besides (in addition, furthermore, moreover, further) penal ((of an activity) punishable by law; disciplinary, punitive, corrective) provisions concerning promoting enmity (hostility, bitterness, rancour, resentment) between communities and outraging (incense, provoke, enrage, infuriate, anger) religious feelings. He was described as a member of the Popular Front of India (The Popular Front of India is an extremist Islamic organisation in India. The Popular Front of India (PFI) was launched in Kerala in 2006 after merging three Muslim organizations- the National Development Front of Kerala, Karnataka Forum for Dignity and Manitha Neethi Pasari of Tamil Nadu). Pamphlets (notice, booklet, leaflet, flyer) calling for justice for the victim and literature (printed matter, pamphlet, notice, booklet, leaflet, flyer) in English (which turned out to be instructions given in English for use in the ‘Black Lives Matter (an international activist movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people)’ protests in the United States), were cited as material to implicate (involve, connect, incriminate, embroil, enmesh, inculpate (someone in a crime)) him.

It is to the credit (praise, commendation, acclaim, acknowledgement, recognition, kudos, regard respect, admiration) of the Bench (a court of law with a number of judges) under the Chief Justice of India, Justice U.U. Lalit, that it did not go by (follow, agree, accept, comply with, subscribe to) the usual penchant (preference, inclination, proclivity, predisposition, disposition, leaning, tendency; trend) for citing Section 43D(5) of the UAPA (It is concentrated on the procedure (a legal bar) for granting bail to a person who is accused of terrorism activities) to deny bail. The provision contains a legal bar on granting bail if the Court is of the opinion that there are reasonable grounds (reason, factor, basis, rationale, premise) to believe that the accusation (charge, allegation, claim, indictment) against those held is prima facie (“It is a Latin expression meaning ‘at first sight/look/view’, at firs appearance, based on first impression. It may be used as an adjective meaning ‘sufficient to establish a fact or raise a presumption unless disproved or rebutted’. It is used for a belief that is accepted as correct until proven otherwise; It literally means ‘at first face’) true. A 2019 judgment forbids a detailed analysis of the evidence at the bail stage. However, a common-sense (sound and wise judgment) approach to the facts of a case may lead to (cause, give rise to, lead to, be the cause of, bring about, generate, prompt) a better appreciation (understanding, acknowledgement, recognition, realization) of the question of bail. By orally asking how raising one’s voice in support of justice for a victim would amount to (be equal to, be equivalent to, be tantamount to, represent, denote, point to) a crime and wondering why a person planning to foment (incite, provoke, agitate, instigate, cause) communal violence would use pamphlets in English written for a protest in another country, the Bench proved the shaky (faltering, unsteady, uncertain, unreliable, untrustworthy, questionable, dubious, doubtful, tenuous, unsubstantial, weak, undependable, unsupported) foundations (basis, fundamental point, premise, essence) of the whole case. The bail order demonstrates how a clear-headed (sensible, well adjusted, reasonable, logical, practical, rational) approach can help judges relieve officials and political leaders of their smug (self-satisfied, complacent, careless, casual, unconcerned, indifferent, slack, lax, apathetic, uninterested; pleased with oneself, proud of oneself, self-approving, self-admiring, self-regarding) belief that by invoking anti-terror laws, they can keep disfavoured (dislike; be against, object to, disapprove; reject, refuse, turn down, say ‘no’ to, dismiss) accused in prison for long years without any basis. At the same time, it reflects poorly on the judiciary (a branch of government in which judicial power is vested; judges collectively) that it took two years for the courts to grant liberty (freedom (from restraints)) to Siddique Kappan. One should hope that this order will send a message (make an important statement (directly/indirectly)) down the judicial hierarchy (pecking order, ranking, class system; arrangement, classification) on how courts should not allow the police to persecute (victimize, abuse, oppress, torture, mistreat, ill-treat, torment, harass, trouble) people through stringent (strict, severe, extreme, rigorous) laws.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.bail (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जमानत
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.

2.expose (verb)

Hindi Meaning - खुलासा, प्रकट करना, दिखाना
English Meaning - reveal, show, display, exhibit, disclose, manifest, unveil, unmask.

3.foist (verb)

Hindi Meaning - थोपना, बल देना, जोर लगाना
English Meaning - impose, force, thrust; burden someone with.

4.prolonged (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - लंबा, बढ़ा हुआ
English Meaning - lengthy, extended, protracted, unending, unrelenting.

5.egregiously (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - आक्रामक रूप से, भयानक रूप से
English Meaning - shockingly, horribly, awfully/very badly.

6.malevolent (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - द्वेषपूर्ण, दुर्भावनापूर्ण, घातक
English Meaning - malicious/malignant, vicious; harmful, dangerous.

7.subject to (verb)

Hindi Meaning - का विषय है, पर निर्भर
English Meaning - dependent on, controlled by, contingent on, conditional upon.

8.onerous (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कष्टदायक, कठिन,
English Meaning - burdensome, difficult, tough, troublesome, stressful.

9.pertinent (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - उचित, उपयुक्त, संबंधित
English Meaning - applicable, appropriate, suitable, related.

10.baffling (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - चौंकाने वाला, हैरान करने वाला
English Meaning - perplexing, puzzling, bewildering, mystifying.

11.outcry (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चिल्लाहट, विरोध, शिकायत
English Meaning - protest, complaint, clamour, commotion.

12.conspiracy (noun)

Hindi Meaning - साजिश, षड़यंत्र
English Meaning - (unlawful) plan/plot, intrigue, collaboration/deception, collusion.

13.divisive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - बांटनेवाला, अलग करना
English Meaning - alienating/isolating, disharmonious, discordant.

14.campaign (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभियान
English Meaning - an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making progress within a specific group; movement, operation, set of tactics, manoeuvre.

15.provision (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रावधान, शर्त
English Meaning - clause, requirement, stipulation, condition.

16.imprisonment (noun)

English Meaning - incarceration, custody, detention, confinement, prison.

17.tenuous (adjective)

English Meaning - doubtful, dubious, questionable, vague, unspecific, indefinite; insubstantial, weak/shaky.

18.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.

19.bypass (verb)

English Meaning - circumvent, avoid, dodge, sidestep.

20.pose (verb)

English Meaning - raise, ask, put forward, moot (a question).

21.move (noun)

English Meaning - action, act, step, measure.

22.float (verb)

English Meaning - put forward, come up with, propose, posit, present, moot (an idea).

23.conspiracy theory (noun)

English Meaning - an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister (criminal/menacing) and powerful groups, often political in motivation.

24.overtones (noun)

English Meaning - hidden meaning, connotation, implication, feeling, intimation.

25.charge (verb)

English Meaning - accuse of, blame for, indict for, prosecute for, try for.

26.invoke (verb)

English Meaning - cite, refer to, adduce, use, put into effect, turn to, resort to.

27.besides (adverb)

English Meaning - in addition, furthermore, moreover, further.

28.penal (adjective)

English Meaning - (of an activity) punishable by law; disciplinary, punitive, corrective.

29.enmity (noun)

English Meaning - hostility, bitterness, rancour, resentment.

30.outrage (noun)

English Meaning - incense, provoke, enrage, infuriate, anger.

31.The Popular Front of India (PFI) (noun)

English Meaning - The Popular Front of India is an extremist Islamic organisation in India. The Popular Front of India (PFI) was launched in Kerala in 2006 after merging three Muslim organizations- the National Development Front of Kerala, Karnataka Forum for Dignity and Manitha Neethi Pasari of Tamil Nadu.

32.pamphlet (noun)

English Meaning - notice, booklet, leaflet, flyer.

33.call for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - require, request, publicly ask/necessitate, demand.

34.literature (noun)

English Meaning - printed matter, pamphlet, notice, booklet, leaflet, flyer.

35.turn out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - transpire, happen, occur, come out.

36.black lives matter (BLM) (noun)

English Meaning - an international activist movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people.

37.implicate (verb)

English Meaning - involve, connect, incriminate, embroil, enmesh, inculpate (someone in a crime).

38.credit (noun)

English Meaning - praise, commendation, acclaim, acknowledgement, recognition, kudos, regard respect, admiration.

39.bench (noun)

English Meaning - a court of law with a number of judges.

40.Constitution Bench (noun)

English Meaning - a bench of the Supreme Court having five or more judges on it. These benches are not a routine phenomenon. Constitution Benches are exceptions, set up only if some circumstances exist). (A bench of two or three judges is called a division bench).

41.go by (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - follow, agree, accept, comply with, subscribe to.

42.penchant (noun)

English Meaning - preference, inclination, proclivity, predisposition, disposition, leaning, tendency; trend.

43.Section 43D(5) in the UAPA (noun)

English Meaning - It is concentrated on the procedure (a legal bar) for granting bail to a person who is accused of terrorism activities.

44.bar (noun)

English Meaning - ban, restriction, barrier, obstruction.

45.be of the opinion (phrase)

English Meaning - to have a particular opinion/belief.

46.ground (noun)

English Meaning - reason, factor, basis, rationale, premise.

47.accusation (noun)

English Meaning - charge, allegation, claim, indictment.

48.held past tense of hold (verb)

English Meaning - detain, imprison, incarcerate, put behind bars.

49.prima facie (adjective)

English Meaning - “It is a Latin expression meaning ‘at first sight/look/view’, at firs appearance, based on first impression. It may be used as an adjective meaning ‘sufficient to establish a fact or raise a presumption unless disproved or rebutted’. It is used for a belief that is accepted as correct until proven otherwise; It literally means ‘at first face’.

50.forbid (verb)

English Meaning - bar, prohibit, debar, preclude, ban, block, prevent.

51.common-sense (noun as modifier)

English Meaning - sound and wise judgment.

52.lead to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - cause, give rise to, lead to, be the cause of, bring about, generate, prompt.

53.appreciation (noun)

English Meaning - understanding, acknowledgement, recognition, realization.

54.raise one’s voice (phrase)

English Meaning - to speak loudly; to express one’s opinion/view openly; speak up.

55.amount to (verb)

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

56.foment (verb)

English Meaning - incite, provoke, agitate, instigate, cause.

57.shaky (adjective)

English Meaning - faltering, unsteady, uncertain, unreliable, untrustworthy, questionable, dubious, doubtful, tenuous, unsubstantial, weak, undependable, unsupported.

58.foundation (noun)

English Meaning - basis, fundamental point, premise, essence.

59.clear-headed (adjective)

English Meaning - sensible, well adjusted, reasonable, logical, practical, rational.

60.smug (adjective)

English Meaning - self-satisfied, complacent, careless, casual, unconcerned, indifferent, slack, lax, apathetic, uninterested; pleased with oneself, proud of oneself, self-approving, self-admiring, self-regarding.

61.disfavour (verb)

English Meaning - dislike; be against, object to, disapprove; reject, refuse, turn down, say ‘no’ to, dismiss.

62.reflect (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, show, display, demonstrate.

63.reflect poorly on someone (phrase)

English Meaning - to make someone to look bad; to damage someone’s reputation.

64.the judiciary (noun)

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

65.liberty (noun)

English Meaning - freedom (from restraints).

66.send a message (phrase)

English Meaning - make an important statement (directly/indirectly).