Introduction:
Compliance with the law is essential for public servants to effectively discharge their duties. However, it is not sufficient alone. Public servants must also possess a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues. While legality provides a framework for acceptable behavior, ethics guide individuals to make morally right decisions. In this response, I will discuss the importance of ethical sensibility in public service and provide two examples where an act is ethically right but not legal, and vice versa.

Ethical Sensibility in Public Service:
Public servants hold positions of power and responsibility, entrusted with serving the interests of the public. Merely complying with the law may not always align with the best interests of the people they serve. Ethical sensibility enables public servants to navigate complex situations, prioritize the welfare of the public, and make morally sound decisions. It ensures fairness, integrity, and accountability in their actions.

Example 1: Ethically Right, but Not Legal:
In some cases, an action may be ethically right, but not legal. Consider a situation where a public servant learns of a corrupt practice within their department that is harming the public interest. The law may require the public servant to remain silent or even cover up the wrongdoing. However, ethically, it is the responsibility of the public servant to expose corruption and protect the public interest. By acting ethically, the public servant may be breaking the law, but they are upholding higher moral standards.

Example 2: Legally Right, but Not Ethical:
Conversely, an action may be legally right but not ethical. For instance, imagine a public servant who has the authority to award contracts. Although the law allows them to accept gifts up to a certain monetary value, it would be ethically wrong for the public servant to accept lavish gifts from contractors seeking favor. While legally permissible, such actions undermine the principles of fairness, impartiality, and integrity. The public servant may be following the law but failing to uphold ethical standards.

Conclusion:
Merely complying with the law is insufficient for public servants. They must also possess a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues to effectively discharge their duties. Ethical sensibility guides public servants to act in the best interests of the public, even when it may conflict with legal obligations. By considering ethical implications in decision-making, public servants can ensure accountability, fairness, and integrity in their actions, ultimately fostering public trust and confidence in the institution of public service.