Ethical Dilemmas in Government

Mr. A is a senior public servant who has worked in two State public service departments over a twenty-year period. In the course of performing his duties, involving primarily monetary and budgeting issues, Mr.A becomes aware that public revenue is being used inappropriately. While he is not directly responsible for this aspect of the budget, he raised his concerns about the channelling of funds from one part of the budget to another to Mr.B, the Head of Division. Mr.A learns that not only is Mr.B aware of this practice, but also that he condones it. Not long after, Mr.A is summoned to talk to Mr.B and to the Director-General about the issue. Due to the politically sensitive nature of the issue, Mr.A is told that the matter is not within his jurisdiction and therefore he should 'keep his nose out of it'. This advice is based on the fact that the incumbent government will not tolerate questions about how it puts its budget together but that it also faces electoral defeat if the matter were to be made 'public'. After much soul searching, Mr.A decides to obey his supervisors by leaving the matter alone. (a) Discuss the possible reasons behind Mr.A decision. (b) Suppose you were Mr.A then what possible options you could have taken? Discuss their merits and demerits and suggest the best course of action, giving reasons.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentPressure and Loyalty

Recently, a metropolitan city which is also the NCT of the country is experiencing extreme air pollution due to which it has been unofficially declared as 'environmental emergency'. The city appears to be like a gas chamber. The immediate causes are burning of crops stubbles in vicinity states and fire crackers on the festive occasion. The other factors are related with city lifestyle wherein most of the human polluting activities remain largely unregulated. Other cities in the country which are close to the vicinity states have also started facing air pollution problems. The emergency like situation has resulted into respiratory related problems such heart and asthma and children are being considered as the most vulnerable. One death has also been reported. Suppose you are the head of the pollution department of the city then a) Is it failure of environmental governance or a human failure? Analyse the factors responsible for failure of regulation of human activities in the city. b) What should be the immediate steps taken to tackle the emergency? c) Discuss the medium and long term steps so that the city air pollution is contained at acceptable.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Environmental EthicsEthical Dilemmas in Government

You are in a subordinate position as a Revenue Officer next to the district head of your department. Your department is entrusted with revenue collection in the district. Annual and the corresponding monthly targets are duly achieved in the district where you are posted and the performance of that district is considered to be satisfactory and even good as compared to other districts in the state. Eventually, you come to know that there is more potential for revenue collection and hence you start applying more efforts. Your enthusiasm to collect more revenue has not gone well in the administration. You are advised from above and below your rank to maintain status quo or face consequences. All the staff seems to be in collusion and you have good evidence to believe that the nexus goes to the departmental headquarter. (a) Identify the various actions that you could take; (b) Evaluate the pros and cons of each of your actions. (c) What should be the most appropriate action in your view? Give adequate justification.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

CorruptionEthical Dilemmas in Government

A wrestler who has participated at international and national events gets his berth to represent India in the upcoming Olympic through a court battle replacing the sportsperson who won a medal in the last Olympic. When few days are left in the event, there are reports of doping against him. He alleges for foul practices by some people in his foods. Initial investigation also happens from this angle. He is being portrayed as clean. The Indian anti-doping agency also clears his name which is challenged in the world anti-doping agency. This agency rule against the wrestler and consequently, he loses chance to participate in the Olympic. At this stage, India loses chance to participate in the category he could have participated. Most importantly, image of the country has suffered. Suppose you were the concerned authority to take a final decision on his participation and replacement at early stage when the controversy first surfaced then a) Discuss the courses of action that you could have followed and give reasons in justification. b) What steps should be taken by the sports authorities in the country to avoid such embarrassment at national and international level. c) To what extent adoption of a code of sports ethics at national level will help in this regard?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Codes of Ethics and ConductEthical Dilemmas in Government

Water crisis is emerging a new threat for survival of human and peace and harmony in society. Many Indian cities are also facing scarcity of water and one such is Jabalpur which is located in the heart of Madhya Pradesh and lies 15 kilometres from river Narmada. Narmada, rain, groundwater and two reservoirs are the four major sources of water for Jabalpur. Once known as the city of lakes, the water bodies have today lost their lust and it is experiencing an imminent water crisis. Water shortage leads to long queues and street squabbles with people's patience running out. Concrete buildings and waste material, sports and business complexes are being planned in place of the retreating water bodies, without a passing thought to the consequences on environment such as drying of lakes. Scarcity of water has led to the digging of tubewells in every plot of the newly-constructed colonies which has worse effect on groundwater and consequently has further aggravated the problem with the fall of the watertable. Earlier most of the rain that fell recharged groundwater aquifers because of dense green cover which, acted as a barrier for surface runoff. Now, with substantial removal of forest cover the available reservoirs are getting silted up. Unfortunately, there is no official policy to respond to the crisis. (a) As a Municipal commissioner of the Jabalpur discuss the feasible solution for reviving lakes, reservoirs and solving the problem of scarcity of water at the same time ensuring the normal life of people should come under so much disruption. (b) There can be some possible negative consequences of your solutions. Discuss strategies to overcome them?

20 marks · 200 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Crisis Decision MakingEnvironmental Ethics

Government has officially decided to construct a nuclear power plant in one district of a state. All the clearances have been done such as design, disaster profiling of the area, population which will be relocated, etc., and the location has been found very ideal for the plant. Since the location is in remote area which is sparsely populated, there are over 2000 population which are going to be affected in relocation. The locality has children, youths, adult men and women, aged, farmers, local traders and businessmen. They have been living happily in that remote area and with their collective efforts; largely the village has been self reliant. They are not against the plant or any developmental project but they also don't want disruption in their lifestyle, social harmony, belongingness and emotional attachment, recreation, business, and farming, which they have narrated to you on your visit to the area. Some of them have even threatened that if this happen, they will commit suicide. Suppose you are a government officer and has been given with adequate power the task to successfully relocate them, then a) What will be the order of priority to the above stakeholders while exploring various options and why? b) What are the various options available to you? c) Evaluate them and choose the most appropriate one, giving reasons.

25 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEmpathy and Compassion

There is a report of racism at one such international airport of the country. Miss A has alleged that the immigration officer 'humiliated' her by repeatedly asking questions about her nationality. The officer looked at her passport and told you didn't look like an Indian. The officer also asked her other inappropriate questions like number of states in the country and the number of states bordering her state. Although she has not filed a formal complaint but the incident has gone viral on social media. There have been reactions also from all quarters including government of India. It is very shameful for the country that people belonging to a particular region are still doubted on their nationality. Suppose you are the head of the immigration department of the airport then a) Give your reaction to the above incident. b) Evaluate the following options and choose the most appropriate one, giving reasons i. No any courses of action will be taken as it is one-off incident. ii. Only warning should be issued to the officer that he should not repeat in future. iii. First allegation should be established and Miss A should be persuaded to file a formal complaint to proceed for disciplinary action against the officer. iv. Warning should be issued to the officer and a sensitisation programme should be initiated in the department about for appropriate conduct.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Civil Service ValuesEmpathy and Compassion

Socially and economically marginalized women are used to make a profit, often at the cost of their own health and reproductive autonomy, in the name of commercial surrogacy. Discuss the ethical issues associated with commercial surrogacy. Should commercial surrogacy be completely banned?

Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentDimensions of Ethics

The ministry of health appointed an expert team to conduct epidemiological study on the health of 1,000 agricultural workers to know the impact of pesticide exposure on health. The study finds that there are adverse impacts on the health of agricultural workers such as the possibility of skin cancer. The report finds its way in media which result into public outcry. However, the ministry rejects the findings of the team as it does not find satisfactory. The ministry of environment has requested the ministry of health not to disclose the findings unless it carries its own study to verify the facts as its expansion plan for genetically modified seeds may get affected. An RTI activist applies for information to PIO of ministry of health. Now, the PIO is in dilemma what he should do? So far, the PIO has a good record of disclosing information for which he has been recently appreciated. Suppose you are the PIO then discuss the merits and demerits of the following options and choose the most appropriate one, giving reasons. (a) The PIO should consult the higher authority and act as per the advice. (b) The PIO should refuse to disclose the information as it is sensitive and can create law and order problem. (c) The PIO should partially disclose the information which is not related to the adverse impact on health. (d) The PIO should disclose the complete information to maintain his good record.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Transparency and InformationEthical Dilemmas in Government

There is a very strange story of electrification of a village in one state. The village is divided by a 50 feet road. The higher caste live on the one side of the road and people belonging to the lower caste live on the other side of the road. The power supply in the village has created a wide gulf between the two sections' living standards. On one hand, the upper caste has all the modern facilities such as TV, refrigerators, coolers and other luxury goods, but on the other, the lower caste struggle even if there is electric poll. They have to get their mobiles' charged through battery and children have to study under lantern. When the people belonging to lower caste went in past to electricity department to get power connection, they were refused on certain excuse. Recently, media has reported the incidents of discrimination. The power department is under huge pressure from the forward caste not to supply electricity to lower caste area and have threatened that if power is supplied, the village will experience violence. a) Suppose you are the Executive Engineer of the district and the matter come to your knowledge then how you will handle the situation to redress the grievances of people belonging the lower caste? b) In this case, what is more important for you: not disturbing the harmony or eliminating caste discrimination, which will necessarily result into disharmony? c) Discuss your strategies for similar cases in villages where caste discrimination prevails to eliminate such practices and ensure sustained harmony.

25 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Rules versus CompassionCivil Service Values

The idea of 'minimum government and maximum governance' has become a popular model of governance today. In the light of this statement, analyse the following questions with suitable illustrations and in the end explain how ethics can help in reconciling both views? i. It propagates the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi-that people should govern themselves, that is, self governance. ii. This idea runs afoul to the fact that people cannot govern themselves, they must be governed.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Civil Service ValuesIndian Thinkers