UPSC Mains 2017 · GS IV · Q12 · 20 marks · 250 words · Case study

You are the manager of a spare parts company A and you have to negotiate a deal with the manager of a large manufacturing company B. The deal is highly competitive and sealing the deal is critical for your company. The deal is being worked out over a dinner. After dinner the manager of manufacturing company B offered to drop you to the hotel in his car. On the way to the hotel he happens to hit a motorcycle injuring the motorcyclist badly. You know the manager was driving fast and thus lost control. The law enforcement officer comes to investigate the issue and you are the sole eyewitness to it. Knowing the strict laws pertaining to road accidents you are aware that your honest account of the incident would lead to the prosecution of the manager and as a consequence the deal is likely to be jeopardized, which is of immense importance to your company.

What are the dilemmas you face ? What will be your response to the situation ?

हिन्दी में

आप एक स्पेयर पार्ट कम्पनी ए के मैनेजर हैं और आपको एक बड़ी उत्पादक कम्पनी बी के मैनेजर से सौदे के लिए बातचीत करनी है । सौदा अत्यधिक प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक है तथा आपकी कम्पनी के लिए यह सौदा प्राप्त करना बहुत महत्त्वपूर्ण है । डिनर पर सौदा किया जा रहा है । डिनर के पश्चात् उत्पादक कम्पनी बी के मैनेजर ने आपको आपके होटल अपनी गाड़ी से छोड़ने का प्रस्ताव किया । होटल जाते समय कम्पनी बी के मैनेजर से एक मोटरसाइकिल को टक्कर लग गई जिससे मोटरसाइकिल पर सवार व्यक्ति बुरी तरह से घायल हो गया । आप जानते हैं कि मैनेजर तीव्र गति से गाड़ी चला रहा था और वह गाड़ी पर नियंत्रण खो बैठा था । विधि-प्रवर्तन अधिकारी इस घटना की जाँच करने के लिए आते हैं और आप इस घटना के एकमात्र प्रत्यक्षसाक्षी हैं । सड़क दुर्घटनाओं के कड़े क़ानूनों को जानते हुए आप इस बात से अवगत हैं कि आपके इस घटना के सच्चे बयान से कम्पनी बी के मैनेजर पर अभियोग चलाया जा सकता है जिसके परिणामस्वरूप सौदा होना ख़तरे में पड़ सकता है और यह सौदा आपकी कम्पनी के लिए अत्यन्त महत्त्वपूर्ण है ।

आप किस प्रकार की दुविधाओं का सामना करेंगे ? इस परिस्थिति के बारे में आपकी क्या प्रतिक्रिया होगी ?

Integrity Ethical Dilemmas in Government

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “There was an incident at a company wherein a fire broke out and led to a number of casualties. During the preliminary inquiry, one of the employees and bystander witnesses, specified that the company had taken all the safety measures and the management was not at fault. During litigation, the same employee was identified as a witness and his deposition was to be taken. The issue is now in the court. You are a Senior Manager of the company and accompanying the said employee to the court for the deposition. On the way the employee tells you that he had lied during the inquiry; and that the truth was worse for the company than he had stated previously. (a) Identify the various ethical issues you would face in this situation. (b) What would you suggest the employee to do? Give reasons for your suggestions.”

Gamini SinglaAIR 3 · CSE 2021 · 307 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

The given case presents one of examples of the increasing industrial disasters in the country due to poor monitoring and lax attitude of owners. Recent cases of fire in private hospitals, at serum institute are other examples.

Body · points

Diagram

- Stakeholders - General public - Myself - Employee witness - Other employees and their families - Judiciary - State

Ethical issues I would face in this situation

I would face a dilemma to choose between the truth or go by previous statement to save the company from dishonour.
Company's mal-administration led to loss of lives and property, hence must be issue of accountability.
Responsibilty towards the company vs towards the public.
Violation of principle of 'truth' as the employee lied initially in preliminary inquiry.
Sanctity of the judiciary and the dignity of the court - will be hampered if employee lies.

My suggestions to the employee

I would suggest him to adhere to truth - as 'Mahatma Gandhi' also emphasised on truth as the weapon of weak.
To accept his previous mistake and stay ready for any penalty that he has to face.
I would ask him to tell fearlessly before the judiciary that under whose influence he lied before.

Reasons behind my suggestion

Truth tends to find its own way and cannot stay hidden for a long duration.
If the company's safety measures were compromised -

a) It must be held accountable. b) Must pay due compensation under Public Liability Insurance Act, 1992. c) Rehabilitate the employees and their families. d) Must face the due punishment.

Bringing matter into public notice is essential: → To create deterrence among other industries. → To prompt Government to take adequate steps by regular inspections, proper surveillance.

Close · a way forward

The government must take strict actions against such incidents and the corporates must adhere to principle of good corporate governance and ensure decent working conditions, in line with Article 42 and 43 of constitution.

4 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper IV, Q12. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.