Daily English Vocab
PDF 9th Jan 2017
Clamping Down on Ordinance Raj
Both superior courts and constitutional functionaries have routinely deprecated (प्रतिकूल इच्छा प्रकट
करना) the propensity(झुकाव/रुझान) of governments to take the ordinance route for mere political
expediency (लाभ/फायदा). The temptation to use the power vested in the President and the Governors
under Articles 123 and 213 of the Constitution is generally a result of one of the following three
reasons: reluctance to face the legislature on particular issues, fear of defeat in the Upper House
where the government may lack the required numbers, and the need to overcome an impasse (कतिन
पररतथिति) in the legislature caused by repeated and wilful disruption by a vociferous (कोलाहलकारी)
section of the Opposition. The verdict of a seven-member Bench of the Supreme Court breaks new
ground in highlighting the constitutional limitations on the cavalier (लापरवाह) resort to ordinances.
The Supreme Court had already declared in 1986, in D.C. Wadhwa, that repeated re-promulgation
of ordinances was unconstitutional. Now, in Krishna Kumar Singh v. State of Bihar, it goes deeper
and concludes that the failure to place an ordinance before the legislature constitutes abuse of
power and a fraud on the Constitution. It noted in this case that a 1989 ordinance by which the
State government took over 429 Sanskrit schools in Bihar was promulgated (घोषणा या एलान करना)
several times until 1992, but not once tabled in the State Assembly.
The judgment widens the scope of judicial review of ordinances. The court can go into whether
the President or Governor had any material to arrive at the satisfaction that an ordinance was
necessary and to examine whether there was any oblique motive. The judgment will be welcomed
by those who believe in constitutional propriety (औतित्य/सि
ु ररत्र/योग्यिा), legislative control over
lawmaking and the larger ethical basis for the exercise of power in any circumstance. However, it
is not always that the ordinance route can be neatly explained as a cynical move to privilege (तवशेष
अतिकार) political expediency over parliamentary accountability. While contending that ordinances
should be issued only to meet certain exigencies and under compelling circumstances, it is equally
important to understand that disruption as a parliamentary tactic plays a significant role. A
dysfunctional House sometimes constitutes a compelling circumstance in itself. Generally, it is the
combination of Opposition obstructionism and government obstinacy (तिद/हि) in not making any
concessions to those across the aisle (पि/राथिा) that derails legislative business and leads to
ordinances. The courts can only define the boundaries between the use and abuse of power, but it
is up to parties in the legislature to observe the limits of constitutional propriety and show that they
have both the time and the will to enact laws.
Courtesy: The Hindu (Law Reforms).
1. Deprecate (verb): Express disapproval of. (प्रतिकूल इच्छा प्रकट करना)

Synonyms: Disapprove Of, Deplore, Find Unacceptable, Be Against, Detest, Despise,
Execrate.
 Antonyms: Approve, Commend, Compliment, Increase, Laud, Praise.
Example: Coach Jones is a good coach because he does not deprecate his players even when they
make mistakes.
Verb forms: Deprecate, Deprecated, Deprecated
Related words:
Deprecation (noun) – प्रतिवाद
2. Propensity (noun): An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
(झक
ु ाव/रुझान)
 Synonyms: Tendency, Inclination, Predisposition, Proneness, Proclivity, Readiness.
 Antonyms: Disinclination, Dislike, Hate, Hatred, Antipathy, Apathy.
Example: When reading the story, the first element one notices is the writer’s propensity to
describe the setting in vivid details.
3. Expediency (noun): The quality of being suitable to the circumstances to avail them.
(लाभ/फायदा)
 Synonyms: Advantageousness, Usefulness, Utility, Benefit, Profitability, Gainfulness.
 Antonyms: Loss.
Example: Given the fact the police will be looking for us soon, it is expedient we leave this
apartment quickly!
Related words:
Expedient (adjective) – लाभकारी
4. Impasse (noun): A situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of
disagreement. (कतिन पररतथिति)
 Synonyms: Deadlock, Dead End, Stalemate, Checkmate, Stand-Off, Standstill, Halt.
 Antonyms: Solution, Boon, Agreement, Breakthrough.
Example: Hopefully the mediator can help us get past this impasse so we can proceed with the
signing of the business agreement.
5. Vociferous (adjective): Expressing or characterized by vehement opinions. (कोलाहलकारी)
 Synonyms: Boisterous, blatant, Clamorous, Noisy, Strident, Vehement.
 Antonyms: Quiet, Silent, Calm.
Example: The protestors were vociferous as they screamed outside of the government building.
Related words:
Vociferously (adverb) – शोर-गल
ु के साथ
6. Cavalier (adjective): Showing a lack of proper concern (लापरवाह)

Synonyms: Offhand, Indifferent, Casual, Dismissive, Insouciant, Uninterested,
Unconcerned.
 Antonyms: Serious, Concerned.
Example: Bryan will regret his cavalier attitude about studying when he fails to graduate on time.
7. Promulgate (verb): Promote or make widely known (an idea or cause) /to make something
recognized or known. (घोषणा या एलान करना )

Synonyms: Publicize, Spread, Communicate, Propagate, Disseminate, Circulate,
Broadcast, Promote, Announce, Proclaim.
 Antonyms: Conceal, Hide, Keep.
Example: The purpose of the documentary is to promulgate the importance of raising funds for
additional cancer research.
Verb forms: Promulgate, Promulgated, Promulgated.
Related words:
Promulgation (noun) – प्रकाशन या प्रचार
8. Propriety (noun): Conformity to conventionally accepted standards of behaviour or morals/
the condition of being right, appropriate, or fitting. (औतित्य/सि
ु ररत्र/योग्यिा)

Synonyms: Correctness, Rightness, Fitness, Suitability, Suitableness, Appropriateness,
Aptness
 Antonyms: Dishonesty, Unsuitability, Bad Manners, Immorality, Impropriety.
Example: To ensure all legal obligations are met, Tom must review every paragraph of the
contract for propriety.
9. Privilege (noun): A special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all. (तवशेष अतिकार)
 Synonyms: Advantage, Right, Benefit, Prerogative, Entitlement
 Antonyms: Disadvantage, Handicap, Hindrance, Loss, Misfortune.
Example: Having a driver’s license is a privilege that can be taken away if a driver is not
responsible.
Verb forms: Privilege, Privileged, Privileged.
Related words:
Privilege (verb) – तवशेष अतिकार होना
10. Obstinacy (noun): The quality or condition of being stubbornness. (तिद/हि)

Synonyms: Stubbornness, Inflexibility, Intransigence, Intractability, Intractableness,
Obduracy, Rigidity.
 Antonyms: Irresolution, Laxity.
Example: The soldiers in that particular battle were thought of as heroes, but it was really
obstinacy that kept them fighting against such impossible odds.
Related words:
Obstinatete (noun) – हठी
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