THE HINDU EDITORIAL : APRIL 23, 2018
THE HINDU EDITORIAL : APRIL 23, 2018
Aspirants can find the important editorial from the 19th April – THE HINDU in the video discussion which is provided below.
a) Unprecedented crisis: on independence of the judiciary
These are extraordinary times for the judiciary. From signs of a confrontation with the executive over judicial appointments to an unpleasant rift among Supreme Court judges, it has seen much turmoil recently. The process initiated by major Opposition parties to impeach the Chief Justice of India is an unprecedented crisis. The motion, details of which cannot be revealed under Rajya Sabha rules until it is admitted, draws its substance and arguments mainly from the points raised by the four senior-most judges, whose dissent brought simmering differences to the fore. Their main charge, that CJI Dipak Misra selectively assigns cases to Benches of his choice, had some dark ramifications, including insinuations about the way he dealt with a petition by a medical college on the judicial and administrative side, and a case of suspected judicial bribery. The CJI has stuck to his position that as ‘master of the roster’ he has the prerogative to allot cases. Are the senior judges who question this entirely wrong? While putting in place the collegium system for judicial appointments, the Supreme Court said “consultation with the Chief Justice” meant “consultation with a plurality of judges”. The argument that the power to allot cases should be exercised by the Chief Justice in consultation with senior judges may have some substance from this point of view. The counter-argument is that a principle evolved for appointments can’t be stretched to cover routine functions such as constituting Benches. But this still raises the question: could the CJI have better addressed his colleagues’ concerns and put in place an informal consultative system, so the damage the institution has suffered could have been avoided? The movers of the motion do not have the numbers to get it passed. And it is wholly within the power of Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu to decide whether to admit it. Against this backdrop, the impeachment attempt led by the Congress may be perceived in some quarters as no more than a political move to highlight its claim that key democratic institutions are in danger under the present regime. To the people at large, the real question is whether it is the internal rift or the executive’s attempt to keep it under its thumb that poses the greater danger to the judiciary. The Rajya Sabha Chairman will have to weigh one question before admitting the motion: what will cause greater damage to the institution, pursuing the process or rejecting it outright? Some may say any inquiry into the CJI’s conduct will imperil judicial independence, and others may argue that ignoring the allegations will be more dangerous. The Constitution advisedly envisages the impeachment of superior court judges as a rigorous political process driven by Parliament. It has in-built safeguards such as an inquiry by a panel of judges, and a two-thirds majority in both Housses. The intention is to provide for both accountability and independence of the judiciary. Neither of these objectives can be dispensed in favour of the other.
b) Common wealth? on Commonwealth leaders’ summit
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in London came with hopes of a “re-energised Commonwealth”. To begin with, the summit was being held in the U.K., the founder of the grouping of mostly former British colonies, after 32 years. Besides, Queen Elizabeth II, the head of CHOGM, attended the summit, which she has done infrequently in the last few years owing to her health. She opened her homes in Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle for the event, in what was called a “charm offensive” by the hosts, who were looking to revive the 53-nation grouping as Commonwealth 2.0, amidst Britain’s rocky exit from the EU. In India too, the summit was seen to be a promising place to play a leadership role, and Prince Charles’s visit to Delhi to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi bolstered that belief. Mr. Modi was the first Indian Prime Minister to attend CHOGM in a decade, after Manmohan Singh skipped the summits in Australia (2011) and Sri Lanka (2013) over bilateral differences, and Mr. Modi skipped the summit in Malta (2015) out of indifference. So it was widely expected that India would step up to a bigger role, and help chart a future course for the Commonwealth. Given the expectations, the outcome of the meet was underwhelming. It was announced Prince Charles would ‘succeed’ his mother as the head of the Commonwealth, ignoring calls for the position to be more democratically shared or rotated. There were substantive statements on the Blue Charter on Ocean Governance and on the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment, which could together counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative. But there was little by way of a road map to achieve the goals. Prime Minister Theresa May apologised for her Home Office’s threat to deport thousands of immigrants brought as manual labour in the 1940s on the ship Empire Windrush from the Caribbean, but failed to convince most members of the Commonwealth that Britain would reverse its policies on immigration. The U.K.’s hard line on Indian “illegals”, which prevented the signing of a bilateral agreement on immigrant “returns” between Mr. Modi and Ms. May, too indicates that post-Brexit London is likely to welcome trade in goods from the Commonwealth, not services. The Commonwealth remains a great platform for development aid, democratic values and educational opportunities, but its relevance is unlikely to increase unless it adopts a more egalitarian and inclusive attitude to its next generation of Commonwealth citizens, to partake in a prosperity their forefathers built.
WORDS/ VOCABULARY
1) Confrontation
Meaning: A hostile or argumentative situation or meeting between opposing parties.
Example: “a confrontation with the legislature”
Synonyms: Conflict, Clash
2) Rift
Meaning: A serious break in friendly relations.
Example: “the rift between the two branches of the legal profession”
Synonyms: Breach, Division
3) Turmoil
Meaning: A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.
Example: “the country was in turmoil”
Synonyms: Confusion, Tumult
Antonyms: Calm, Peace
4) Impeach
Meaning: Charge (the holder of a public office) with misconduct.
Example: “congressional moves to impeach the president”
Synonyms: Indict, Charge
Antonyms: Acquit
5) Unprecedented
Meaning: Never done or known before.
Example: “the government took the unprecedented step of releasing confidential correspondence”
Synonyms: Unequalled, Unmatched
Antonyms: Normal, Common
6) Simmering
Meaning: Something that is simmering is controlled but may burst out at any time, often violently.
Example: The simmering controversy now appears to be coming to an end.
7) Fore
Meaning: To public attention or into a noticeable position.
Example: The prime minister has deliberately brought to the fore those ministers with a more caring image.
Synonyms: Fame, Famous
8) Ramifications
Meaning: A complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event.
Example: “any change is bound to have legal ramifications”
Synonyms: Consequence, Result
9) Insinuations
Meaning: An unpleasant hint or suggestion of something bad.
Example: “I’ve done nothing to deserve all your vicious insinuations”
Synonyms: Implication, Inference
10) Bribery
Meaning: The giving or offering of a bribe.
Example: “his opponent had been guilty of bribery and corruption”
Synonyms: Corruption
11) Prerogative
Meaning: A special advantage that allows some people the freedom to do or have something that is not possible or allowed for everyone.
Example: It’s the president’s prerogative to nominate judges who share his political philosophy.
12) Collegium
Meaning: An organization for people who have similar interests or who do similar work.
Example: No one wanted to miss the inaugural meeting of the Collegium of Black Women Philosophers at Vanderbilt University.
13) Exercised
Meaning: Use or apply (a faculty, right, or process).
Example: “control is exercised by the Board”
Synonyms: Use, Utilize
14) Counter-argument
Meaning: An argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.
Example: “the obvious counterargument to that dire prediction is that the recession has depressed earnings”
15) Evolved
Meaning: Develop gradually.
Example: “the company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer”
Synonyms: Develop, Progress
16) Stretched
Meaning: Extend or spread over an area or period of time.
Example: “the beach stretches for over four miles”
Synonyms: Extend, Spread
17) Consultative
Meaning: Intended to give professional advice or recommendations.
Example: “a process of consultative review”
18) Backdrop
Meaning: The setting or background for a scene, event, or situation.
Example: “the conference took place against a backdrop of increasing diplomatic activity”
19) Impeachment
Meaning: A charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public office.
Example: “the president is facing impeachment over the scandal”
20) Perceived
Meaning: Become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand.
Example: “his mouth fell open as he perceived the truth”
Synonyms: Discern, Recognize
21) Pursuing
Meaning: Continue to investigate or explore (an idea or argument).
Example: “we shall not pursue the matter any further”
Synonyms: Conduct, Undertake
22) Imperil
Meaning: Put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed.
Example: “they advised against tax increases for fear of imperiling the recovery”
Synonyms: Endanger, Risk
23) Allegations
Meaning: A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.
Example: “he made allegations of corruption against the administration”
Synonyms: Claim, Assertion
24) Envisages
Meaning: Contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event.
Example: “the Rome Treaty envisaged free movement across frontiers”
Synonyms: Foresee, Predict
25) Rigorous
Meaning: (of a rule, system, etc.) strictly applied or adhered to.
Example: “rigorous controls on mergers”
Synonyms: Strict, Severe
Antonyms: Lax
26) Accountability
Meaning: The fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility.
Example: “lack of accountability has corroded public respect for business and political leaders”
Synonyms: Responsibility, Liability
27) Dispensed
Meaning: Give special exemption from (a law or rule).
Example: “the Secretary of State was empowered to dispense with the nationality requirement in individual cases”
28) Colonies
Meaning: A group of people of one nationality or race living in a foreign place.
Example: “the British colony in New York”
Synonyms: Population, Community
29) Charm
Meaning: An attractive or alluring characteristic or feature.
Example: “the hidden charms of the city”
Synonyms: Attractiveness, Enticement
30) Revive
Meaning: Regain life, consciousness, or strength.
Example: “she was beginning to revive from her faint”
Synonyms: Revitalize, Refresh
31) Bolstered
Meaning: Support or strengthen.
Example: “the fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence”
Synonyms: Strengthen, Support
Antonyms: Undermine
32) Underwhelming
Meaning: Fail to impress or make a positive impact on (someone); disappoint.
Example: “American voters seem underwhelmed by the choices for president”
33) Substantive
Meaning: Important, serious, or related to real facts.
Example: Substantive research on the subject needs to be carried out.
Synonyms: Very Important
34) Reverse
Meaning: Exchange (the position or function) of two people or things.
Example: “the experimenter and the subject reversed roles and the experiment was repeated”
Synonyms: Swap, Change
35) Hard line
Meaning: Uncompromising; strict.
Example: “a hard-line party activist”
Synonyms: Extreme, Undeviating
Antonyms: Moderate
36) Relevance
Meaning: The quality or state of being closely connected or appropriate.
Example: “this film has contemporary relevance”
37) Egalitarian
Meaning: Believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
Example: “a fairer, more egalitarian society”
38) Partake
Meaning: Join in (an activity).
Example: “visitors can partake in golfing or clay pigeon shooting”
Synonyms: Participate, Enter
39) Prosperity
Meaning: The state of being prosperous.
Example: “a long period of peace and prosperity”
Synonyms: Wealth, Success
Antonyms: Hardship, Failure
40) Forefathers
Meaning: A member of the past generations of one’s family or people; an ancestor.
Example: “the duchy which her forefathers had ruled since the tenth century”
Synonyms: Forebear, Ancestor
Antonyms: Descendant
Want to learn more , Check the Previous Day of THE HINDU EDITORIAL which was published in our Bankersdaily and learn new words to enhance your Vocabulary.
THE HINDU EDITORIAL – APRIL 21, 2018
Aspirants can also check the previous month THE HINDU EDITORIAL and can improve the vocabulary list & can ace the exams. Learning the language is easy and this will make the process simple.
FEBRUARY – THE HINDU EDITORIAL
