The Hindu Editorial : March 25,2019

The Hindu Editorial : March 25,2019

Dear Aspirants,

Daily Current Affairs (March 25, 2019) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness, Static GK and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.

A) Twelve years later: on Madras HC’s verdict on ‘Dinakaran’ case

The Madras High Court has prevented a miscarriage of justice in the ‘Dinakaran’ case

It is not often that political hooliganism is punished in a court of law. In cases that result in loss of life, investigation and prosecution tend to become inescapable — but the trials are often derailed because of the nexus between party heavyweights and police officers who lean on witnesses to turn hostile. It is therefore gratifying that the Madras High Court has broken the mould to set aside the perverse acquittal of all those involved in the attack on the Madurai office of Dinakaran, a Tamil daily, in 2007 and sentenced nine of them to life. Three persons were killed due to suffocation after parts of the office were set on fire by a mob owing allegiance to M.K. Alagiri, elder son of M. Karunanidhi and then a powerful Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader in the temple city. They were angry over an opinion poll carried in the daily, which is part of the Sun Group of Kalanithi Maran, grandnephew of M. Karunanidhi and brother of former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran. The poll had claimed that Mr. Alagiri was less popular than his brother M.K. Stalin, who now leads the DMK after Karunanidhi’s death in 2018. While the initial reaction from the media group and the press fraternity was one of anger and outrage, the cause for justice substantially failed after a patch-up between the feuding sections of the family. Even while the investigation was transferred to the CBI, the political system was working to save the party’s hirelings. Most witnesses turned hostile, the trial judge rejected even photographic and videographic evidence on technical grounds, and the CBI failed to bring home the guilt of the assailants.

The High Court has noted that among the eye-witnesses who shied away from deposing in favour of the prosecution were Dinakaran’s own reporters and photographers, other journalists who covered the event and many police officers who were at the spot while the protest was turning violent and dozens of party cadre were gathering there with lethal intent. It has made a dark but possibly apposite comparison with the Best Bakery case, in which a key witness turned hostile and it was later revealed she had lied out of fear for her life. The Bench has pulled up the trial judge for “manifest perversity” in his treatment of evidence, especially in rejecting on flimsy grounds the testimony of forensic experts that there was no sign of manipulation or tampering in the photographs and footage presented in court. It was well known to the public that Mr. Alagiri wielded enormous clout at that time and that his supporters were involved in the incident. It is indicative of the atmosphere of intimidation that prevailed that even journalists who covered the incident denied their presence. While the court has prevented a miscarriage of justice in this case, it is a sordid truth that the state of affairs may continue in future too, unless amoral political leaders and pliant police officers mend themselves.

B) A different league: on Indian Premier League 2019

In its 12th iteration, the IPL fields concerns about its place in the cricket calendar

The Indian Premier League, since its launch in 2008, has become a sporting indulgence every summer. Cricketing purists may sneer at Twenty20s and their lack of historical resonance, but there is no denying the IPL’s popularity and resilience. The 12th edition, which started in Chennai on Saturday with an easy victory for the holders Chennai Super Kings, will span diverse venues for the 60 matches. Despite the elections being held through seven phases during April-May, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has ensured that every franchise gets its rightful share of home and away matches. But besides the immediacy of sixes, dot-balls and ecstatic fans, the current IPL has to deal with the elephant in the room. It is expected to conclude on May 12, and immediately the biggest tournament in the International Cricket Council calendar awaits the players. The World Cup starts on May 30, with host England taking on South Africa at the Oval. India will open its campaign with the game against South Africa at Southampton on June 5. But there isn’t enough time for the Indian team to recuperate.

Virat Kohli’s men have been playing without a break over the last few months, with tours of Australia and New Zealand followed by the limited overs series against visiting Australians. They then plunged into the IPL, and now with the World Cup looming large, that old debate of club vs country has bubbled up again, and rightly so. There are fears about Indian and overseas cricketers picking up injuries in the league, which might scupper their World Cup plans. The national selectors, who are keeping an eye out for some surprise talent emerging in the league, are hoping that the core group of established stars will remain fit for cricket’s showpiece event. There is speculation about the BCCI and the Indian team management having had a word with team-owners over workload management so that key players don’t suffer a burnout. Yet, there is no clarity about this plan, and the fear of fatigue derailing the cricketers is a genuine one. Amidst this confusion, the IPL still presents an opportunity for a few Indian players to press their claims to be on the flight to London. The Australian duo of Steve Smith and David Warner, who are coming back after a one-year ban following the ball-tampering crisis at Cape Town in South Africa last March, are also keen to excel for Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively, and claim their Baggy Green caps. Strangely, the domestic tournament with an international flavour, as Rahul Dravid described the IPL, continues to have no space for Pakistan cricketers, raising questions about its organising principles. Politics and commerce have reinforced each other to make an even deeper impact on the IPL.

VOCABULARY

1) nexus

Meaning : a connection or series of connections linking two or more things(n).

Synonyms : connection

Antonyms : exterior

Example : “the nexus between industry and political power”

2) gratifying

Meaning : giving pleasure or satisfaction(adj).

Synonyms : delightful

Antonyms : disagreeable

Example : “the results were gratifying”

3) aside

Meaning : a remark or passage in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play(n).

Synonyms : alone

Antonyms : middle

Example : “Shakespeare’s use of asides and soliloquies”

4) acquittal

Meaning : a judgement or verdict that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged.

Tamil Meaning : விடுதலை

Synonyms : amnesty

Antonyms : hiring

Example : “the trial resulted in an acquittal”

5) claimed

Meaning : state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.

Synonyms : assert

Antonyms : desert

Example : “the Prime Minister claimed that he was concerned about Third World debt”

6) fraternity

Meaning : a group of people sharing a common profession or interests.

Tamil Meaning :

Synonyms : sorority

Antonyms : hostility

Example : “members of the hunting fraternity”

7) feuding

Meaning :be engaged in a prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute.

Synonyms : conflict

Antonyms : accord

Example : “Hoover feuded with the CIA for decades”

8) hostile

Meaning : showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly.

Synonyms : adverse

Antonyms : aiding

Example : “a hostile audience”

9) deposing

Meaning : remove from office suddenly and forcefully.

Synonyms : dethrone

Antonyms : allow

Example : “he had been deposed by a military coup”

10) lethal

Meaning : sufficient to cause death.

Synonyms : destructive

Antonyms : harmless

Example : “a lethal cocktail of drink and pills”

11) apposite

Meaning : apt in the circumstances or in relation to something(adj).

Tamil Meaning : தகுதியான

Synonyms : relevant

Antonyms : inappropriate

Example : “an apposite quotation”

12) hostile

Meaning : showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly(adj).

Synonyms : adverse

Antonyms : aiding

Example : “a hostile audience”

13) revealed

Meaning : make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others(n).

Tamil Meaning : வெளிப்படுத்தினார்

Synonyms : concede

Antonyms : contradict

Example : “Brenda was forced to reveal Robbie’s whereabouts”

14) forensic

Meaning : relating to or denoting the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime.

Synonyms : debatable

Antonyms : theoretical

Example : “forensic evidence”

15) tampering

Meaning : interfere with (something) in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations.

Tamil Meaning : சேதப்படுத்திய

Synonyms : tinker

Antonyms : improve

Example : “someone tampered with the brakes of my car”

16) wielded

Meaning : hold and use (a weapon or tool).

Tamil Meaning : செல்வாக்கு

Synonyms : employ

Antonyms : misuse

Example : “a masked raider wielding a handgun”

17) enormous

Meaning : very large in size, quantity, or extent.

Tamil Meaning : மகத்தான

Synonyms : excessive

Antonyms : common

Example : “enormous sums of money”

18) denied

Meaning : state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of.

Synonyms : contradict

Antonyms : support

Example : “both firms deny any responsibility for the tragedy”

19) sordid

Meaning : involving immoral or dishonourable actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.

Synonyms : sleazy

Antonyms : decent

Example : “the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams”

20) denying

Meaning : state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of.

Synonyms : oppose

Antonyms : accept

Example : “both firms deny any responsibility for the tragedy”

21) diverse

Meaning : showing a great deal of variety; very different.

Synonyms : disparate

Antonyms : conforming

Example : “a culturally diverse population”

22) Despite

Meaning : contemptuous treatment or behaviour; outrage.

Tamil Meaning : இருந்தபோதிலும்

Synonyms : although

Antonyms : exalt

Example : “the despite done by him to the holy relics”

23) recuperate

Meaning : recover from illness or exertion.

Synonyms : convalesce

Antonyms : deteriorate

Example : “she has been recuperating from a knee injury”

24) looming

Meaning : appear as a vague form, especially one that is large or threatening.

Synonyms : imminent

Antonyms : distant

Example : “vehicles loomed out of the darkness”

25) reinforced

Meaning : strengthen or support (an object or substance), especially with additional material.

Tamil Meaning : வலுப்படுத்தியது

Synonyms : fortified

Example : “the helmet has been reinforced with a double layer of cork”

THE HINDU EDITORIAL : MARCH 23, 2019

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