What is meant by conflict of interest? Illustrate with examples, the difference between the actual and potential conflicts of interest.
Answer: A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s personal interests – family, friendships, financial, or social factors – could compromise his or her judgment, decisions, or actions in the workplace. Government agencies take conflicts of interest so seriously that they are regulated. A conflict of interest is a situation in which an individual has competing interests or loyalties. A conflict of interest can exist in many different situations.
E.g. with a public official whose personal interests conflict with his/her professional position (Chanda Kochhar case), with a person who has a position of authority in one organization that conflicts with his or her interests in another organization, with a person who has conflicting responsibilities. In our work lives, we also have interests that could influence the way we do our jobs and the decisions we make. Even if we never act on them, there may be an appearance that a conflict of interest has influenced our decisions. Consider this example. Your supervisor is promoted to department director. His daughter-inlaw is hired as a new supervisor within the college but is not reporting to him. Maybe the new supervisor is the best candidate for that position, and maybe the new department director had nothing to do with her hire. Even if this hire met all of the requirements under our Employment of Relatives policy, the situation appears suspicious and employees may think that something was unfair or unethical about her hire.
The difference between the actual and potential conflict of interest:
Example: A civil servant awarding public-contract to a firm owned by his/her relatives is a case of actual conflict of interest. Whereas, according to civil services rules, a civil servant should not be posted in his/her native district is to avoid any potential conflict of interest. Similarly, the Delhi High Court verdict which quashed the appointment of 21 Delhi MLAs as secretaries to ministers was to avoid any potential conflict of Interest. While, an MLA having peculiar benefits from some other Office of Profit is illegal as it is actual conflict of interest.
You are the team lead in a project. Your junior Mr. A, in the team is an extremely hard working and a productive individual who always completes his assignments on time. However of late, it has been brought to your notice that Mr. A has been misbehaving with Mrs. x who is a junior to him in the team. Mrs. x approaches you and apprises you of her uncomfortable situation in the team. According to her, Mr. A has been making advances towards her in the wrong way and on occasions has even asked her out for dinner which she disapproved of. Mrs. x demands immediate action against Mr. A. How will you proceed and what actions will you take to resolve the crisis?
Pawan is pursuing MBA and shares a room with you in the private hostel. He desperately needs a job after completing his course because of educational loan and weak economic background. In his last two semesters, he couldn’t secure good grades due to serious illness. In current semester he has to secure good marks at any cost to satisfy minimum criteria for placements.
Few days before the final semester exam, he comes to you and asks for money. He is stressed and nervous. He tells you about his plan to purchase semester papers to clear the exam and convinces you for the same by giving reference to his bad health, family status and his education loan.
In such circumstances, would it be right to lend money to him?
(a) Identify the moral dilemma faced by you.
(b) Analyse your role and duties as a friend, also suggest your course of action.
(a) Moral dilemmas faced:
(b) Roles and duties as a friend:
You are a District Collector of a city which is scheduled to go to polls in a week. The responsibility to conduct fair elections has been given to you. However, suddenly your mother suffers a heart attack and has to be admitted to a hospital in your home district, which is at a distance of 250 kms from the district of your posting. Doctor informs you that she needs to be shifted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and her chances of survival are bleak. You are the only child and want to be with her and your family at this moment. Your plea for an emergency leave has been rejected by the Election Commission. What would you do under such circumstances?
To know more information
39 videos|4657 docs|1030 tests
|
1. What are the important current affairs related to ethics in August 2022? |
2. How is ethics relevant in the UPSC exam? |
3. What are the ethical concerns surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in decision-making processes? |
4. What are the ethical implications of gene editing technologies like CRISPR? |
5. What are the ethical challenges in the pharmaceutical industry? |
39 videos|4657 docs|1030 tests
|
|
Explore Courses for UPSC exam
|