GS4 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Ethics Case Study - 1 | UPSC Mains Answer Writing: Practice PDF Download

Q. 

You are the District Collector of an area that has recently witnessed a communal riot between Hindu and Muslim communities. Many people have lost their residences, businesses and lives because of these riots. During the communal violence, schools were targeted and burnt; ambulances were denied access to the grievously injured; and journalists were beaten up. A list released by the hospital showed that several victims had died of assault and burns (from acid and fire). The hospitals in the area are flooded with the victims, and are running short of doctors and infrastructure to cater to the large population.
As many people had died of gunshot wounds, several policemen have been accused of siding with the rioters instead of trying to maintain the law and order.
Many students in the area are to write their class 10th and 12th Board exams, and are now staging a protest demanding the exams to be postponed. Several families who have lost their homes, have created makeshift tents in front of your office to express their protest. The media is blaming the government for its inaction and you are under the pressure to immediately hold a press conference and speak on the behalf of the government.

(a) Identify the stakeholders and the ethical issues involved.
(b) What course of action will be most appropriate to establish the law and order in the area again? Justify.

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Introduction

The given case is very sensitive, it has multiple stakeholders involved and requires a number of issues to be resolved. In dealing with this case as an administrator I will maintain very high ethical standards and efficiency in management of the ongoing crisis to bring relief and justice to victims of riots and restore the public faith in the Government.

Body

(a) Resolution of the issues of the case requires a mixture of short and long term measures which can be tabulated as following:

• The first two courses of actions would not be taken by me because the former is morally unsound and latter is professionally inappropriate.
• With the third, fourth and fifth course of action, I would be able to control the riots, restore the public faith in the government and bring perpetrators of the riot to justice. There are few caveats in these courses of action but most of them are temporary and manageable in the line of duty.
• With the sixth course of action I will be able to provide immediate medical relief to the victims and plug the gap in the required medical assistance.
• The issues of students appearing for the board exams will be resolved by the seventh course of action.

(b) To establish permanent peace and order and to address the other underlying issues of the case the following course of action will be taken:

Conclusion
Thus, the above plan would help me as a district collector to take decisions which are morally sound and are more appropriate to restore the law and order situation at the earliest and bring maximum justice to most of the stakeholders.