You are a municipal commissioner of a large city, having the reputation of a very honest and upright officer. A huge multipurpose mall is under construction in your city in which a large number of daily wage earners are employed. One night, during monsoons, a big chunk of the roof collapsed causing instant death of four labourers including two minors. Many more were seriously injured requiring immediate medical attention. The mishap resulted in a big hue and cry, forcing the government to institute an enquiry. Your preliminary enquiry has revealed a series of anomalies. The material used for the construction was of poor quality. Despite the approved building plans permitting only one basement, an additional basement has been constructed. This was overlooked during the periodic inspections by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. In your enquiry, you noticed that the construction of the mall was given the green signal despite encroaching on areas earmarked for a green belt and a slip road in the Zonal Master Plan of the city. The permission to construct the mall was accorded by the previous Municipal Commissioner who is not only your senior and well known to you professionally, but also a good friend. Prima facie, the case appears to be of a widespread nexus between officials of the Municipal Corporation and the builders. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the enquiry. The builder, who is rich and influential, happens to be a close relative of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. The builder is persuading you to hush up the matter, promising you a fortune to do so. He also hinted that if this matter is not resolved at the earliest in his favour there is somebody in his office who is waiting to file a case against you under the POSH Act.

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “You are a Sub-Divisional Magistrate of a large city, having the reputation of a very honest and upright officer. A huge hospital in your city is working day and night to ensure Emergency services are carried out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One night, during monsoons, fire engulfed the Covid ward causing instant death of 20 patients including 10 minors. Many more were seriously injured requiring immediate medical attention. The mishap resulted in a big hue and cry, forcing the government to institute an inquiry. Your preliminary enquiry has revealed a series of anomalies. The material used for the cables was of poor quality. Despite the approved building plans permitting only one basement, an additional basement has been constructed which required more power demand causing stress on the system. This was overlooked during the periodic electrical inspections by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. In your enquiry, you noticed that the hospital has more demand of power than sanctioned by the electricity department. Apart from this you also noticed many irregularities in compliance to the fire safety guidelines. There were no proper exit routes indications and many other technical irregularities with respect to fire safety. The permission to have higher load demand and No Objection Certificate for fire safety was accorded by the previous Sub-Divisional Magistrate who is not only your senior and well known to you professionally, but also a good friend. Prima facie, the case appears to be of a widespread nexus between officials of the district administration and the hospitals. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the enquiry. The previous SDM happens to be a close relative of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. The previous SDM is persuading you to hush up the matter, promising you a fortune to do so. He also hinted that if this matter is not resolved at the earliest in his favour there is somebody in his office who is waiting to file a case against you under the POSH Act. (a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) What are the options available to you in this situation? (c) Explain your selected course of action.”

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

• You are a Sub-Divisional magistrate of a large city, having the reputation of a very honest and upright officer. A huge hospital in your city is working day and night to ensure Emergency services are carried out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One night, during monsoons, fire engulfed the Covid ward causing instant death of 20 patients including 10 minors. Many more were seriously injured requiring immediate medical attention. The mishap resulted in a big hue and cry, forcing the government to institute an inquiry. Your preliminary enquiry has revealed a series of anomalies. The material used for the cables was of poor quality. Despite the approved building plans permitting only one basement, an additional basement has been constructed which required more power demand causing stress on the system. This was overlooked during the periodic electrical inspections by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. In your enquiry, you noticed that the hospital has more demand of power than sanctioned by the electricity department. Apart from this you also noticed many irregularities in compliance to the fire safety guidelines. There were no proper exit routes indications and many other technical irregularities. The permission to have higher load demand and No Objection Certificate for fire safety was accorded by the previous Sub-Divisional Magistrate who is not only your senior and well known to you professionally, but also a good friend. Prima facie, the case appears to be of a widespread nexus between officials of the district administration and the hospitals. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the enquiry. The previous SDM happens to be a close relative of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. The previous SDM is persuading you to hush up the matter, promising you a fortune to do so. He also hinted that if this matter is not resolved at the earliest in his favour there is somebody in his office who is waiting to file a case against you under the POSH Act. (a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) What are the options available to you in this situation? (c) Explain your selected course of action.1 answer
• You are a Municipal Commissioner of a tier-2 city experiencing rapid urban expansion. Several high-rise residential and commercial buildings are under construction in the city to meet the growing demand for housing. One such luxury residential complex is being built, employing hundreds of daily-wage labourers, many of whom live in temporary settlements at the construction site. Late one night during the monsoon season, a large section of scaffolding and concrete slabs collapses from the up-per floors of one of the under-construction buildings. Seven labourers, including two minors, die on the spot. Several others are critically injured and rushed to the hospital. The tragic incident results in public outrage, intense media scrutiny, and protests by a local NGO. The state government orders a formal inquiry and directs you to submit a report within a week. Your preliminary investigation reveals a series of irregularities. The construction material used is substandard and not in accordance with the National Building Code. Although the approved plan permits construction of fifteen floors, the builder has illegally added two extra floors. Moreover, the structure has encroached on land demarcated for a community park and a fire service lane under the city's Zonal Development Plan. These violations are not reported during site inspections conducted by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. The building clearance was granted during the tenure of your predecessor, who is not only your batchmate but also a close friend. Both of you were roommates during your training at LBSNAA. Prima facie, the case appears to involve a widespread nexus between officials of the Municipal Corporation and the builder. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the inquiry. Some of them suggest that holding the builder accountable could damage the city's image among investors and slow down urban development. Meanwhile, you know that the builder is the younger brother of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. One evening, his personal aide visits you privately. He suggests that the matter could be "mutually settled" and offers you a premium apartment worth ₹2 crore in the same residential complex. In the same breath, he hints that if the matter is not resolved swiftly in the builder's favour, someone in his office is prepared to file a complaint against you under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. b) What are the options available to you in this situation? c) Explain your selected course of action.1 answer
• You are a Municipal Commissioner of a tier-2 city experiencing rapid urban expansion. Several high-rise residential and commercial buildings are under construction in the city to meet the growing demand for housing. One such luxury residential complex is being built, employing hundreds of daily-wage labourers, many of whom live in temporary settlements at the construction site. Late one night during the monsoon season, a large section of scaffolding and concrete slabs collapses from the upper floors of one of the under-construction buildings. Seven labourers, including two minors, die on the spot. Several others are critically injured and rushed to the hospital. The tragic incident results in public outrage, intense media scrutiny, and protests by a local NGO. The state government orders a formal inquiry and directs you to submit a report within a week. Your preliminary investigation reveals a series of irregularities. The construction material used is substandard and not in accordance with the National Building Code. Although the approved plan permits construction of fifteen floors, the builder has illegally added two extra floors. Moreover, the structure has encroached on land demarcated for a community park and a fire service lane under the city's Zonal Development Plan. These violations are not reported during site inspections conducted by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. The building clearance was granted during the tenure of your predecessor, who is not only your batch-mate but also a close friend. Both of you were roommates during your training at LBSNAA. Prima facie, the case appears to involve a widespread nexus between officials of the Municipal Corporation and the builder. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the inquiry. Some of them suggest that holding the builder accountable could damage the city's image among investors and slow down urban development. Meanwhile, you come to know that the builder is the younger brother of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. One evening, his personal aide visits you privately. He suggests that the matter could be "mutually settled" and offers you a premium apartment worth ₹2 crore in the same residential complex. In the same breath, he hints that if the matter is not resolved swiftly in the builder's favour, someone in his office is prepared to file a complaint against you under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. b) What are the options available to you in this situation? c) Explain your selected course of action.2 answers