You are a young, aspiring and sincere employee in a Government office working as an assistant to the director of your department. Since you have joined recently, you need to learn and progress. Luckily your superior is very kind and ready to train you for your job. He is a very intelligent and well-informed person having knowledge of various departments. In short, you respect your boss and are looking forward to learn a lot from him. Since you have a good tuning with the boss, he started depending on you. One day due to ill health he invited you at his place for finishing some urgent work. You reached his house and before you could ring the bell you heard shouting noises. You waited for a while. After entering the house the boss greeted you and explained the work. But you were constantly disturbed by the crying of a woman. At last, you inquired with the boss but his answer did not satisfy you. Next day, you were compelled to inquire further in the office and found out that his behaviour is very bad at home with his wife. He also beats up his wife. His wife is not well educated and is a simple woman in comparison to her husband. You see that though your boss is a nice person in the office, he is engaged in domestic violence at home. In such a situation, you are left with the following options. Analyse each option with its consequences.

Various options available

a) Ignore thinking about it because it is a personal matter.

• Merits

  • Right to privacy of every individual (Puttaswamy judgement)
  • Protect personal career progression - otherwise may create hostility between you and boss
  • Maintain good relation with boss

• Demerits

  • Crisis of conscience
  • Silence = complicity : makes me a pseudo accomplice to the crime
  • Violation of law by the boss
  • May create mental pressure on lady -> suicidal
  • Doesn't set right example for leadership (violates categorical imperative)

b) Report the case to appropriate authority

• Merits

  • Allows law to take its route
  • Ensures gender justice
  • Clear conscience is the softest pillow
  • Will motivate others to come forward in future

• Demerits

  • Lack of evidence about the crime
  • May sour relation between boss and me : stop career growth
  • Difficulty in getting hired for any job in future
  • No right to interfere in personal matters

My approach

1. Firstly, I would try and talk to my boss again about it at the right time.

→ If his reply is still not satisfactory, I would try and talk to his wife to come forward courageously and file an FIR.

→ I would also suggest her to talk to her husband about it and take couple therapy.

→ If wife is also hesitant, I would try and collect evidence and submit to appropriate authority.

→ I will rope in NGOs and civil society to provide appropriate mental health support to the wife after abuse.

Justification

→ I cannot not act and act as a silent perpetator to the crime. It is my duty to be an aware citizen and bring wrongdoings to limelight.

→ Talking to both parties allows them enough space to sort it out privately, before I take any unilateral action.

→ I will be displaying values of compassion, integrity and high moral standards by acting in the right manner.

→ I will be following deontological ethics by choosing the right means (reporting the crime) and not worry about the end (hamper professional growth).

→ This will also encourage women to speak up for their rights.

The primary reason for evil to strive is for good men to do nothing.