You are a senior officer at an intelligence agency working for the internal security of the nation. You find out that a junior officer has been a victim of honey trapping through social media. In all of this, his phone was hacked and confidential files were leaked. The entire department has come together and wants you to take strict action against that officer for his behavior. That junior officer is highly skilled and a valuable asset for the organisation. He is also very close to you as you have mentored him throughout and he also respects you a lot. Moreover, any action against him might attract media attention and bring a bad repute to the organisation at large. (A) What are the ethical issues involved and the options available to you in such a situation? (B) Also, suggest a course of action you would like to follow.

Case Study A new and ambitious District Magistrate (DM) was recently appointed in a district plagued by severe water scarcity and recurring farmer suicides. During his initial field visits, he observed widespread illegal extraction of groundwater by industries, which exacerbated the crisis in rural areas. Despite a Supreme Court directive banning unregulated groundwater extraction, the industries continued to exploit resources, often bribing local officials to evade scrutiny. One day, during a surprise inspection, the DM sealed a major industrial plant violating water extraction laws. Soon after, he began receiving veiled threats from influential industrialists and even faced indirect pressure from senior bureaucrats to revoke his action. The DM also discovered that the illegal activities were intertwined with the livelihoods of many low-income workers employed by these industries, creating a social and ethical conflict. As public protests against the plant's closure gained momentum, the DM was faced with a challenging decision: to uphold the law and protect long-term water security or to consider the immediate economic impact on local workers and their families. (a) Identify the ethical dilemmas faced by the DM. (b) What options are available to the DM in this situation? (c) Suggest the most appropriate course of action with justifications.

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 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 The municipal corporation of a city approved felling of trees to develop public transport infrastructure. Amidst the concrete jungle of the district, area X is a treasured green patch. With increasing environmental awareness, people have come on the streets to spread the message of conservation and stand against the indiscriminate felling of trees. The Municipal Corporation is of the view that developing viable public transport infrastructure will dissuade people from using private vehicles and ultimately reducing the carbon footprint. Meanwhile, activists say it is the sole surviving natural floodplain of the area, whose reclamation through construction and felling of trees would lead to greater inundation during the monsoon. The state government alarmed by widespread public protest against the felling of trees has constituted a committee to look into the matter and suggest alternatives for this project. You are appointed as the chairperson of this committee, What course of action will you recommend to the government for assuaging public concern and limiting environmental impact?