The Hindu Editorial (Coerced consent) – May 25, 2026
To read this article, click “The Hindu”.
This preview is provided here with permission.
Courtesy: The Hindu
The Hindu Editorial (Coerced consent) – May 25, 2026:
- coerced (adjective) – obtained by the use of force, threats, or pressure; forced, compelled, pressured, extorted.
- consent (noun) – agreement, assent, approval, permission.
- set aside (phrasal verb) – to overrule or overturn a legal decision; annul, nullify, quash, discard.
- sedition (noun) – incitement to rebel against the authority of a state; subversion, agitation, treason, insurrection.
- constitutionally (adverb) – in a way that relates to or is allowed by the constitution; legally, lawfully, legitimately.
- unsustainable (adjective) – not able to be maintained or defended; indefendable, unjustifiable, unacceptable, invalid.
- infrequently (adverb) – rarely, seldom, scarcely, not often.
- colonial (adjective) – relating to the period of the British colonies; old, historical, imperial.
- offence (noun) – a breach of a law or rule; crime, illegal act, wrongdoing, violation.
- codify (verb) – to arrange laws or rules into a systematic code; systemize, organize, formulate, document.
- Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (noun) – a provision in the Indian Penal Code that criminalizes sedition, punishing actions that bring hatred or contempt towards the government; sedition law.
- the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (noun) – the official and comprehensive criminal code of the Republic of India covering substantive aspects of criminal law.
- tool (noun) – an instrument used to accomplish a task; mechanism, apparatus, means, device.
- quell (verb) – to put an end to something, typically by the use of force; suppress, crush, stamp out, subdue.
- dissent (noun) – disagreement with widely held or official views; opposition, disapproval, objection, difference of opinion.
- refrain from (verb) – to stop oneself from doing something; abstain, desist, hold back, avoid.
- first information report (FIR) (noun) – written document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offence; police report, initial charge.
- coercive measures (adjective) – relating to or using force or threats to compel someone to do something; forceful, authoritarian, dictatorial, high-handed.
- measure (noun) – action, step, procedure.
- S.G. Vombatkere vs Union of India case (noun) – a landmark Supreme Court of India case that challenged the constitutionality of the sedition law, leading to a historic stay on its application.
- reconsider (verb) – rethink, review, re-examine, re-evaluate.
- provision (noun) – term, clause, stipulation, condition.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (noun) – the new criminal code of India that repeals and replaces the Indian Penal Code (IPC), aimed at overhauling the criminal justice system.
- take effect (phrase) – to come into force or become operational; become active, start, begin.
- effectively (adverb) – practically, essentially, virtually.
- Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (noun) – a provision in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) penalizing acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, effectively replacing the old sedition law; new sedition law.
- sentence (noun) – the punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court; prison term, penalty, judgement, punishment.
- orally (adverb) – verbally, spoken, vocally.
- observe (verb) – remark, comment, state.
- promise (noun) – a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing; commitment, pledge, vow, guarantee.
- review (verb) – reassess, re-evaluate, reconsider.
- bind (verb) – to impose a legal obligation on; oblige, force, compel.
- as if (phrase/conjunction) – as would be the case if; as though, supposedly, seemingly.
- ease (verb) – alleviate, mitigate, relieve, facilitate.
- passage (noun) – the formal act of officially approving and enacting a legislative bill into law; enactment, passing, adoption, approval.
- era (noun) – period, time, epoch, age.
- accused person or the accused (noun) – an individual who is formally charged with committing a crime; defendant, suspect, respondent.
- objection (noun) – an expression or feeling of disapproval or opposition; protest, complaint, disagreement, dispute.
- coerce (verb) – to compel, force, or pressure someone to do something; to obtain something by using threats or intimidation.
- lack (verb) – to be without or deficient in something; be short of, miss, need, require.
- robust (adjective) – strong, sound, powerful, vigorous.
- legal representation (noun) – the process of a lawyer or attorney defending or advocating for someone in a court of law; legal counsel, legal assistance, legal defense.
- incarcerated (adjective) – confined in a prison or penal institution; imprisoned, jailed, detained, confined.
- indefinite (adjective) – lasting for an unknown or unstated length of time; unclear, uncertain, undetermined.
- Hobson’s choice (noun) – a situation in which only one choice is given and there is no real alternative; take it or leave it, no choice, lack of options.
- outcome (noun) – consequence, result, conclusion, aftereffect.
- indeed (adverb) – undoubtedly, undeniably, unquestionably, actually.
- stay (noun) – a suspension or postponement of judicial proceedings or an order; pause, halt, postponement, suspension.
- pause (verb) – stop temporarily, suspend, halt, delay.
- pending (preposition) – awaiting decision or settlement; awaiting, until, unresolved, uncompleted.
- constitutional challenge (noun) – a legal proceeding in which the validity of a law or government action is questioned for violating the constitution; legal challenge, judicial review, legal dispute.
- trial (noun) – a formal examination of evidence by a judge, typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings; legal proceeding, hearing.
- entail (verb) – to involve something as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence; involve, require, necessitate, cause.
- prolonged (adjective) – lengthy, extended, drawn-out, protracted.
- unclear (adjective) – ambiguous, doubtful, uncertain, vague.
- charge (verb) – to formally accuse someone of an offence; accuse, indict, blame, implicate.
- move (verb) – to make a formal request or application to a court or assembly; apply, appeal, request, petition.
- bail (noun) – 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; temporary release.
- liberty (noun) – freedom, independence, free will, release.
- rather than (phrase) – instead of, as opposed to.
- restore (verb) – reinstate, re-establish, return, put back.
- proceeding (noun) – legal action, litigation, lawsuit, trial.
- intended (verb) – planned or meant for a particular purpose; deliberate, purposeful, proposed, designed.
- remedy (noun) – solution, cure, relief, redress.
- frozen (adjective) – halted, paused, suspended, put on hold.
- swing (verb) – to shift or change direction from one state or condition to another; fluctuate, shift, turn, pivot.
- stand (verb) – to be in a particular state, condition, or situation; exist, remain, be, hold.
- in contrast to (phrase) – in opposition to; as opposed to, contrary to, different from, unlike.
- ‘bail is the rule’ principle (phrase) – The phrase “bail is the rule, jail is an exception” is a foundational legal doctrine in Indian jurisprudence, stemming from the fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. This foundational legal doctrine in Indian jurisprudence stating that granting temporary release is the normal practice and pretrial jail is an exception.
- reinforce (verb) – strengthen, support, consolidate, bolster.
- Syed Iftikhar Andrabi vs National Investigation Agency, Jammu Case (proper noun) – a specific Supreme Court case where the bench reaffirmed that bail remains a rule even under the UAPA if the trial is unduly delayed. The court forcefully reiterated that Section 43-D(5) is always subordinate to Article 21 (Right to Life and Liberty) of the Constitution. It ruled that prolonged pre-trial incarceration converts delay into an unconstitutional punishment, meaning constitutional courts can always bypass the UAPA statutory bar to protect personal liberty.
- preserve (verb) – protect, maintain, safeguard, uphold.
- agency (noun) – the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power; power, capability, control, choice.
- preserve your agency (phrase) – to protect or maintain one’s capacity, autonomy, and power to make independent choices and take action; safeguard autonomy, maintain control, protect independence, defend free will.
- pair (verb) – to put together or join two things; combine, couple, match, link.
- continuation (noun) – the state of remaining in a particular position or condition; extension, prolongation, perpetuation, maintenance.
- pair continuation with (phrase) – to combine or link the extension or maintenance of something (such as a legal provision) with an accompanying condition or safeguard.
- presumption (noun) – assumption, supposition, premise, belief.
- annul (verb) – to declare invalid or legally void; cancel, nullify, invalidate, void.
- chilling (adjective) – disturbing, alarming, intimidating, frightening.
- charge (noun) – accusation, allegation, indictment, claim.
- free speech (noun) – the right to express one’s opinions publicly without fear of censorship or punishment; freedom of expression, right to speak.
- secure (verb) – to succeed in obtaining or achieving something; obtain, acquire, gain, get.
- sustained (adjective) – continuous, unbroken, prolonged, steady.
- litigation (noun) – lawsuit, legal case, legal proceeding, judicial process.
- wait out (phrasal verb) – to delay action until a particular event or period is over; sit out, wait until the end, endure, weather.
- whereas (conjunction) – in contrast or comparison with the fact that; while, although, conversely.
- compel (verb) – force, push, pressure, oblige.
- consent (verb) – to give permission for something to happen; agree, assent, approve, allow.
- depend on (phrasal verb) – to be controlled or determined by; rely on, hinge on, rest on.
- litigate (verb) – take legal action, sue, contest in court, appeal.
- the state (noun) – government, administration, regime, authorities.
- contested (adjective) – disputed, challenged, opposed, questioned.
- in limbo (phrase) – in an uncertain situation or state where a final decision has not yet been made; uncertain, pending, unresolved, postponed.
- perverse (adjective) – illogical, irrational, unreasonable, contrary.
- incentive (noun) – motivation, encouragement, stimulus, impetus.
- bad-faith (adjective) – dishonest, fraudulent, deceitful, insincere.
- state actors (noun) – individuals, organizations, or entities acting on behalf of a governmental body; government officials, state agents, public authorities.
- underlying (adjective) – basic and fundamental; deep-rooted, hidden, basal, primary.
- uncertainty (noun) – unpredictability, doubtfulness, ambiguity, unreliability.
- once and for all (phrase) – completely and finally; finally, permanently, conclusively, definitively.
- criminal offence (noun) – a harmful act or omission that violates the law and is punishable by the state; crime, felony, wrongdoing, illegal act.
- pass (verb) – transfer, shift, give, hand over.
- burden (noun) – a heavy load or a difficult responsibility; onus, strain, pressure, obligation.
- duty (noun) – a moral or legal obligation; responsibility, obligation.
Note:
1. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are our personal work. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.
2. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.
To download daily word list PDFs, click HERE
“Idioms & Phrases” We Learnt Last Week
“Important Definitions” We Learnt Last Week
Recent Word Lists For The Hindu Editorial Articles
The Indian state has not infrequently used the colonial offence of sedition, codified under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as a tool to quell dissent… For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (Coerced consent) – May 25, 2026.