Case Study You have recently taken charge as the District Collector of a semi-urban district dealing with frequent encroachment disputes and rising public expectations from the administration. Soon after assuming office, you notice that one of your junior officers, Raghav, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), has gained significant popularity on social media. He regularly posts updates of inspections, public interactions, and enforcement actions, portraying an image of an energetic and proactive officer. However, you gradually observe that his posts often include videos of surprise inspections, images of junior staff standing tensely behind him, and clips of punitive actions such as sealing shops—sometimes with strong captions like “Action speaks louder than words.” One such video of sealing a commercial establishment goes viral, drawing public praise but also criticism that procedural fairness was not clearly shown. Colleagues quietly mention that this public display of authority may create more fear than trust. Shopkeepers tell a senior police officer that they hesitate to visit the SDM office, worried that ordinary grievances may be recorded and posted online. An informal complaint from a local MLA describes the SDM’s conduct as “high-handed” and motivated by publicity. An anonymous petition also reaches your office alleging inadequate notice in the sealing operation, although the official records show non-compliance. You realise that the issue does not involve an obvious legal violation but presents subtle ethical dilemmas, the line between transparency and intimidation, the responsible use of social media, the dignity of individuals during enforcement, and the need for young officers to balance enthusiasm with institutional propriety. As District Collector, you must decide how to address the situation while preserving administrative integrity, maintaining the morale of a promising officer, and ensuring that citizens do not feel humiliated or threatened by the misuse, intentional or unintentional, of official power. Question: Q1.Identify the core ethical issues involved in this case. Explain their relevance to public administration. Q2. Do you think the SDM’s use of social media, though legal, raises ethical concerns? Justify your answer using principles of public service, propriety, and dignity of individuals. Q3. As the District Collector, what steps will you take to address the situation in a fair, balanced, and constructive manner? Provide short-term and long-term measures. Q4. Suggest a code of conduct or guidelines for civil servants’ use of social media that balances transparency, accountability, and ethical restraint.

Case Study Q. You are a senior officer working in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Recently, a major policy on regulating social media was rolled out, and you've played a significant role in its drafting and implementation. One evening, while returning home, you receive a call from your daughter’s college counselor asking you to come over the next day. When you visit the college, the counsellor informs you that your daughter has been showing signs of stress, reduced class participation, and increasing absenteeism. Upon speaking to your daughter privately, you learn that she has been facing online bullying on a popular social media platform. Memes, videos, and posts have targeted her appearance and her connection to "the officer who is banning things people love." She reveals that her classmates have been mocking her in school and online, blaming her for their parents' inconvenience due to the ban on certain social media activity. She requests you not to take any official or public action, fearing further embarrassment. Your colleagues advise you to issue a formal clarification through your Ministry's press wing or release a personal video presenting facts and defending your family. However, senior bureaucrats caution you against making it personal or emotional, fearing it might set a precedent and undermine institutional protocol. (a) Identify and discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) What course of action would you take in this situation and why? Substantiate your answer using ethical principles. (c) What regulatory framework should be in place to ensure that social media remains a space for free expression while protecting individuals from online abuse, misinformation, and digital manipulation?

Case Study Q. Industrial chemicals are produced on a big scale by a conglomerate. It suggested establishing a second unit. Due to its negative impact on the environment, many states rejected this proposal. But one state government acceded to the request and permitted the unit close to a city, brushing aside all opposition. Further, the unit was set up 10 years ago and was in full swing till recently. The pollution caused by the industrial effluents was affecting the land, water, and crops in the area. It was also causing serious health problems to human beings and animals. This gave rise to a series of agitations demanding the closure of the plant. In a recent agitation, thousands of people took part, creating a law-and-order problem necessitating stern police action. Following the public outcry, the State government ordered the closure of the factory. The closure of the factory resulted in the unemployment of not only those workers who were engaged in the factory but also those who were working in the ancillary units. It also very badly affected those industries which depended on the chemicals manufactured by it. As a senior officer entrusted with the responsibility of handling these issues, how are you going to address it?

Case Study As the District Collector of a Suratwada district, you are overseeing a government-funded rural development project aimed at improving infrastructure. However, you soon discover that several contractors awarded the contracts for building roads, sanitation systems, and affordable housing have strong political ties to local and state-level politicians. These contractors, despite a history of substandard work and financial mismanagement in previous projects, continue to be awarded lucrative tenders due to their political leverage. Upon reviewing the project, you uncover that funds are being misused, with inflated costs and substandard materials being used in construction. Corrupt local officials are found to be complicit in manipulating the approval process. Despite knowing this, you face immense pressure from both your political superiors and influential local figures to allow the project to continue without intervention. Exposing the corruption could stall the project, affecting the district’s development and potentially harming your career, as the political backlash could lead to your transfer or disciplinary action. You are caught in a dilemma: Should you expose the corruption and risk your career and the completion of the project, or turn a blind eye, knowing that doing so would compromise your ethical duty to the public? The decision is further complicated by the knowledge that your actions could affect both the future of the project and your ability to carry out governance in the district. Questions: 1. What options are available to you to ensure that the corruption in the project is thoroughly investigated, while minimizing disruption to public services? 2. What course of action would you take to maintain your integrity and balance the investigation with the need for continued public service delivery? 3. What long-term reforms would you consider implementing in your district to prevent similar situations of corruption in future government projects, and how would you ensure that such reforms gain traction in the face of political and administrative resistance?

Case Study A woman was in a live-in relationship with her male partner. She complained to the police of sexual harassment and rape continously for the last five years on the pretext of marriage by her partner. The police on prima facie investigation found out that the allegation is false and the couple was living happily until some internal feud developed that led to these baseless allegations. The woman complained to the State Commission for Women and alleged that she did not get justice from the police and they were biased against her due to a patriarchal mindset. She demands justice from the Women Commission. You are the chairperson of the State Commission for Women. (a) What steps will you take in such a situation? (b) Do you think that live-in relationships are against Indian culture and traditional values?

Case Study You are the District Collector of a rural district with a high rate of female illiteracy and child marriage. A new government scheme has been launched to provide financial incentives to families who keep their daughters in school until age 18. However, implementation has been challenging due to deeply entrenched cultural norms. Recently, you have received reports that some families are falsely claiming the incentives while still marrying off their daughters early. You must carefully analyze the situation, balance competing interests and take adequate steps to resolve this issue. What are the stakeholders involved in this situation? What actions will you take regarding effective implementation of the scheme and address other immediate social challenges? What long-term strategies can be implemented to sustain the impact of the scheme and changing societal attitudes towards female education and child marriage?

Case Study You are a young Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer posted in a country where a large Indian diaspora resides. Recently, a conflict broke out in one of the regions of the country, and several members of the Indian community, including women and children, are stranded and seeking urgent evacuation. Your embassy has limited resources and a small staff. While coordinating the evacuation, a prominent local businessperson with significant political connections requests immediate priority evacuation for his family, bypassing the official protocol. He offers to donate a large sum to support the evacuation mission if you agree to his demand. However, prioritizing his request would mean delaying the evacuation of several families who are in more precarious situations. Adding to the complexity, you are under pressure from the local government to minimize visible evacuation operations as they fear it might escalate tensions further. You must decide how to proceed in this crisis, balancing ethical considerations, resource constraints, and diplomatic pressures. (a) What are the stakeholders involved in this situation? (b) Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as the officer in charge of the evacuation? (c) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you?