Case Study Your friend Ritwik hails from a village whose surrounding areas were submerged due to floods during the monsoon last year. Government assisted the affected people by giving them cash doles to purchase household goods, seeds to replant crop and cash to compensate for loss of standing crop. Ritwik had his house site on high ground and suffered no loss of personal effects. Luckily, his agricultural land being relatively far away from the flooded river escaped the ravages of the flood. Normally, government machinery is unable to thoroughly assess the damage suffered by each individual family. As a result, people take advantage by making extravagant and often fictitious claims. Ritwik has made false claims like others in the village. As a close friend of Ritwik, what do you think about his action? Is it a right thing to do? what would be your appropriate response to Ritwik’s conduct?

Several villages in Jharkhand have resorted to Pathalgarhi – a tribal tradition of erecting stone slabs to demarcate the area of their villages’ jurisdiction, declaring their autonomy and self-rule in the areas under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. In these localities, no outsider including the government servants is allowed. From various sources, it has come to be known that tribals are not happy with the state and central government as they feel ignored, marginalized and have been experiencing the plunder of their resources on which traditionally they enjoyed control. They hold new laws and developmental activities responsible for their plight. Suppose you are a DM in one such affected district where this movement is going on, what strategies will you adopt to tackle the issues on short term as well as long term basis. Give justification for your strategies.

Case Study Ramesh Verma is the District Mining Officer (DMO) in a mineral-rich but economically backward district. The region has long struggled with illegal sand and stone mining, controlled by local contractors with strong political backing. These activities cause environmental damage, loss of state revenue, and frequent accidents involving villagers. Soon after joining, Ramesh noticed that illegal mining continued openly at night despite repeated complaints. When he ordered surprise inspections and seizure of vehicles, he received a phone call from a local legislator, who advised him to “go slow” in the interest of maintaining social peace and employment. Informally, Ramesh was told by senior colleagues that previous officers who acted strictly were transferred within months. Over time, a clear nexus emerged. Local politicians protected mining operators, the police avoided registering cases, and criminal groups ensured intimidation of villagers who protested. In return, illegal operators funded election campaigns and paid regular bribes to officials at multiple levels. Files related to mining violations were deliberately delayed or diluted in the district offices. One evening, a serious accident occurred when an overloaded mining truck hit a group of villagers, killing two people. Public anger erupted, and media attention focused on the administration’s failure. Political leaders blamed “rogue elements” and pressured Ramesh to certify that the truck was operating legally. Ramesh now faces a critical ethical dilemma. If he records the truth and initiates strict action, he risks political pressure, personal threats, and possible transfer. If he compromises, he becomes part of the political–bureaucratic–criminal nexus, undermining the rule of law, environmental protection, and public trust. As a public servant, Ramesh must decide how to uphold integrity, legality, and accountability in an environment where institutional support appears weak and vested interests are deeply entrenched. Q.1 Identify the ethical issues involved in the above case. Q.2 How does the political–bureaucratic–criminal nexus affect public interest, environmental governance, and the credibility of public institutions? Q.3 What should be the most ethically appropriate course of action in this case? Suggest both immediate administrative steps and long-term institutional reforms to prevent the recurrence of such political–bureaucratic–criminal nexuses.

Sandeep Patel an IAS officer, was posted as Transport Commissioner. While performing chi’s duties he found that the whole of the Transport department including its Minister are steeped in corruption. It is widely believed that the Minister of the Department has arranged posting of ‘bad elements’ to sensitive jobs with the sole objective of facilitating rent seeking. Due to this, corrupt practices took place mainly in check-posts. There is heavy vehicle traffic to the neighbouring state which has many ports. There is a parking area where the drivers of the trucks first park the vehicle. They then collect ‘challans’ (demand note) after standing in a long queue before the window of the challan issuing officers. The driver may have to wait in the queue anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour to collect the challan from the clerk. Along with the challan amount, the truck drivers also paid an ‘extra’ amount as indicated in a coded sign language by the challan issuing staff. Further, due to the manual system, vehicles are held up for considerable time at the check-posts. In Sandeep’s place how would you try to improve the system?

Case Study You are the Sarpanch of a Panchayat. There is a primary school run by the government in your area. Midday meals are provided to the children attending the school. The Headmaster has now appointed a new cook in the school to prepare the meals. However, when it is found that the cook is from Dalit community, almost half of the children belonging to higher castes are not allowed to take meals by their parents. Consequently the attendance in the school falls sharply. This could result in the possibility of discontinuation of midday meal scheme, thereafter of teaching staff and subsequent closing down the school. (a) Mention ethical issues of the case and also discuss some feasible strategies to overcome the conflict and to create the right ambience. (b) What should be the responsibilities of different social segments and agencies to create positive social ambience for accepting such changes?