You are SP of a district where the use of drugs is prevalent, especially among the youth. The neighbouring districts are also suffering from the same problem. There is a huge hue and cry in the national media about the drug issue and the government and political parties are pressurising the police and district administration to act on the issue. A big deal of drugs is busted by the police in your area and all the culprits have been arrested. However, even before you reach your office, a minister from the ruling party of the state calls and asks you to release few of the culprits. You have long suspected the role of many senior leaders in this drug menace of the state. You have also been informed by your juniors that a few officers who dared to act against people involved in drug dealings were transferred or suspended on wrong charges earlier. 1. Identify the options available to you. 2. Evaluate the pros and cons of each of your options.

Options available

i) Not paying any heed to political pressure and doing probe with full honesty

Pros

a) Public needs officials who can hold their ground in adversities.

b) Crime-politics nexus would be broken. It would also cleanse political systems as they wont get illegal funding.

c) Youth can contribute to the development than being becoming unconscious by drugs

Cons

i) I may get transferred, or worse, attacked by criminals protected by politicians.

ii) May cause conflict between the two spheres.

1. Towing the politicians line and leaving some criminals and not probing fairly involvement of politicians in racquet

Pros

i) Will save conflict with politicians

ii) May save me from transfer, suspension

Cons

i) Will break the confidence of public from bureaucracy.

ii) Youth would be spoiled.

iii) Criminals would get more strength.

iv) Failure of 'rule of law'

1. Informing the Health Secretary and taking his opinion on matter by providing him with all facts

Pros

i) Balanced approach

ii) Will lead to more accountability as more levels of bureaucracy included.

iii) Will deter politicians from taking steps against me for honest probe

Cons

i) The secretary may put the moral pressure back on me

ii) Criminals may take it as sign of weakness of administration and police.

1. Ask judiciary for a honest probe for all involved, not leaving any criminals.

Pros

i) Covers all aspects to lend credibility as judiciary is respected by all spheres.

ii) Will lead to uncovering of participation of political leaders, thus ending nexus and corruption.

Cons

i) May be unfeasible if the case is not much highlighted nationally.

ii) May prolong the prosecution etc.