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Practice Case Studies # 03
1.0 Case Study 1
Rohit is the chief legal officer in a well-respected company making lifesaving drugs. His board of directors asks him to look into the rumours of price-fixing in some firms. The board has a very strong ethics policy, and is especially wary of price-fixing, bribery, kick-backs, and other unethical activities that can plague pan Indian operations. After several months of detailed interviews, Rohit satisfies himself that the rumors are baseless. "There's no issue here," he heard several managers say. "But," added one such manager, "if you really want something to investigate, look into the Chattisgarh contract." Over the months, Rohit keeps hearing about "the Chattisgarh contract." So when he finishes his report on the price- fixing rumors, he decides to satisfy his curiosity on this matter. The contract, he discovers, is ordinary in almost every respect: A major relief organization has contracted with his company to supply a million inexpensive kits of medicine for delivery into the rural villages of Chattisgarh. Like most such contracts with charitable organizations, it contains hardly any profit for his firm. What he finds strange, however, is the payment of an extraordinarily large commission to a Raipur distributor to deliver the kits deep into Chattisgarh. Suspecting that this is a bribe, he seeks out the executive who made this deal. The executive reveals that according to the Raipur distributor, the backs of the delivery trucks are loaded with the kits-and the glove compartments are stuffed with cash. That way, when the drivers are stopped at roadblocks set up by local militia units operating all across Chattisgarh, they can pay whatever is demanded and continue their journey.
Rohit is sure that the executive has not been benefitted at all and his only motive is to get the kits delivered. And by this time, the deliveries have already been made. What should Rohit do? (250 words)
20 marks
2.0 Case Study 2
One of your juniors, Abdul, belongs to an orthodox and fundamentalist family. Although you have no problems with anyone's religious beliefs, Abdul is very vocal about his religion which is creating a problems for the other employees.
He not only preaches to his fellow employees, but he also has criticized the attire of some of his female coworkers and continually quoted the Koran in staff meetings. You've received complaints about his behavior from several employees. A few weeks ago, you suggested Abdul that he should tone down his preaching. But Abdul's reaction was as if he was being prosecuted for his religious beliefs. What should you do? (250 words)
20 marks
3.0 Case Study 3
You are in a top administrative position with a reputation of commitment to work and public service. You have high regard for your son and the bright future ahead of him. Your son got an offer to study abroad when he was around 18, and when it was only weeks left for his travel, on a pleasure trip in car with his friends, he accidentally ran over a pedestrian. It was your son who drove the car and as per his friends he was under mild influence of alcohol. The pedestrian was killed, and you are shocked to hear the news. The victim's relatives who utilize the situation to earn some quick money approach you and offer to settle the case without much complications and court proceedings, if you give them 10 lakh rupees. You are now in an ethical dilemma that, if you move as per the legal course, it will take time for a solution.
Moreover, there is every chance that the verdict will be negative to him which will ruin his higher education possibilities in US and probably his entire life. The pedestrian who got killed was a history sheeter and a nuisance to the society when he was alive, and there are not many who weep over his death. They are happy to close the case for the mentioned amount.
In this situation, what will you do? (250 words)
20 marks
4.0 Case Study 4
Within a few days of becoming the Panchayat Secretary, Shashwat gets a circular which says that he should soon conduct a Grama Sabha to finalize the action plan of MGNREGA. The Action Plan contains the list of works to be undertaken in the villages and their estimated expenditures. This should be decided in the Grama Sabha and the decision of Gram Sabha is immutable. The Gram Sabha was held and chairman, all elected members, officer in-charge, engineer, people from villages debated and finally listed important works to be undertaken and the estimated expenditure was decided there itself. The chairman of Panchayat, who was also a class-I contractor, meets Shashwat and asks him to manipulate the funds estimates. Even few members who themselves were small time contractors and who had previously used the MGNREGA scheme to finish works and draw money, joined Chairman in demanding manipulation of the action plan.
Due to Shashwat's strong objection to this, he is manhandled by some members in the office after he resisted their attempt to snatch the Action Plan and manipulate it. But when the police arrived, the chairman alleged that the Panchayat secretary behaved in an indecent manner with female members hence he was thrashed. Female members seconded this allegation. Shashwat is taken to police station. Police refused to accept his version of the incident, which was true. He was helpless at the moment. Shashwat contacts the Block Development Officer (BDO) and tells his part of the story. At the same time, Panchayat members narrate their version.
How should the BDO proceed from here? (250 words)
20 marks
5.0 Case Study 5
You are posted as the Superintendent of Police to a district. The stenographer, a beautiful young lady who is smart and hard-working, grows close to you. You take her assistance in many official tasks. Slowly, rumours start spreading that you are having an affair with her. To make things worse the stenographer has confessed to her friends in office that she loves you. You are affectionate towards her but you are faithful to your wife. You do not worry about rumours and carry on with your work meanwhile growing closer to the stenographer. Your wife comes to know about these rumours. A point is reached where the stenographer becomes powerful in the office thanks to your close association. Your continued association is straining your relationship with your wife and is also affecting your public image. What will you do in these circumstances? Which values would you uphold most in such a scenario, and why. (300 words)
20 marks
6.0 Case Study 6
You have been currently working in an organisation with the same team for a year. One of your subordinates Mr. Mohan is very effective and hard working. He is a go-getter, takes initiative and gets the work done. However reports have reached you that Mohan makes loose comments about women. Mrs. Khan, who is working under Mohan, comes to you and tells you that Mr. Mohan has been making undue advances towards her and has even asked her to go out for dinner with him. She wants to give a written complaint against Mohan because this behaviour clearly indicates sexual harassment at the work place. What are the various courses of action available to you? Explain and decide about a future course of action. (250 words)
20 marks
7.0 Case Study 7
Rajanna had borrowed money from a private bank to buy a tractor. He was a farmer who grew sugar-cane on his two acres irrigated land. He bought the tractor from the money he had received from bank loan. He also used part of the money to pay dowry and expenses for his daughter's wedding. Owing to price drop in sugar cane in the market, he consistently defaulted on his bank loan. Fortunately he owned irrigated land and he was confident of repaying the debt within two years if the price of sugar cane improved. The bank authorities had sent him few notices. However, recently the bank decided to publish the photographs of defaulters in the public places and in local newspaper to put pressure on them. Rajanna, who was a respected individual in his village was shocked to know this and committed suicide.
After few days, the bank auctioned his tractor off too. Rajanna's wife and children have complained against the bank to the police accusing it of killing Rajanna.
Critically comment on ethical aspects of Rajanna's deeds. (250 Words)
20 marks
8.0 Case Study 8
A school van carrying 20 children hits a passenger bus en-route to school. Three women in the passenger bus and 4 children in the school van die on the spot. It was the fault of driver of school van who jumped the signal and hit the passenger bus. The driver of school van escapes unhurt and then escapes from the accident spot. The government announces cash relief to all the victims - dead and injured. At the same time, the government cancels recognition to the school to which the van belongs to. The police, on complaint from the aggrieved parents, arrests the principal of the school and a search party is sent to arrest the absconding driver.
Is the government right in its actions mentioned in the case study? Substantiate. (250 Words)
20 marks
9.0 Case Study 9
Tarun is working as the Superintendent of Police. In a village which comes under Tarun's jurisdiction a gang rape has taken place. A school teacher has been raped by four youths. The parents of the lady directly complain to Tarun that the local Sub-Inspector has not registered case against those youths and moreover, when their daughter went to register a complain, he insulted and then threatened her with consequences if she went before media or made the case public. They also tell Tarun that the lady teacher was not sent for medical check-up. Now the media doesn't know about the case, nor does the public. The parents allege that the local Sub-Inspector has taken bribe from those youth and has let them off without registering a case against them. Now the parents are saying that as a last resort they would go before the media, but they are scared about revelation of their daughter's identity and losing her job too.
In this scenario, what should Tarun do? Explain. (250 Words)
20 marks
10.0 Case Study 10
Mukund is the nephew of a local MLA and is now posted as block development officer in his uncle's constituency. He comes to know that MLA's followers, who are mainly small contractors and many elected members of Gram Panchayat, are hand in glove with local Panchayat officials in misusing MGNREGA funds. He finds that each Panchayat secretary along with elected members have used machines to complete many works under the scheme and siphoned off funds using fake job cards. He also finds out that all this was done at the behest of his uncle, the local MLA. Now, the state government has taken cognizance of the issue after a media report and has ordered an inquiry into the scam.
Mukund has to probe the matter and file a report to higher authorities. His uncle is pressurizing him to file a false report as he himself is under pressure from his followers, who if found guilty will be slapped with a criminal case. Some contractors have contacted and requested him to not to mention their names in the report in return for a hefty bribe. Some Panchayat secretaries have requested him to spare them as according to them Panchayat members had coerced them into becoming partners in crime. Mukund is recently married and it is his first government job.
Analyse the various courses of action available to Mukund. How should he act? (250 words)
20 marks
11.0 Case Study 11
Mohan, a graduate from a top medical college of the country made it to the civil services and got IAS. After a few years Mohan was made the DM of a left wing extremism affected backward district of an already poor state. Unfortunately there is a drought continuing in this part of the country for previous two years. Mohan is visiting a few villages in a block deep in the forest inhabited by poor tribals. There is a team of doctors, NGOs, media and police along with numerous support staffs with mohan. Mohan reaches a village where the calamity is more monstrous than Mohan had ever thought of as a human. He is moved with the plight and the stories of ineffectiveness of the Govt.
Suddenly a young man comes running to Mohan and his team and says that his pregnant wife is in labour and losing blood. Mohan sends a doctor to help. This doctor returns and conveys mohan that this woman can be saved only if blood is "transfused immediately". Upon enquiry Mohan comes to know that a few blood collection bags (kits) are there in the ambulance accompanying his team. Meanwhile a few people of the team turned up to volunteer for donation of blood. As a doctor Mohan knows that ethical transfusion of blood is possible but unbanked transfusion of blood is illegal and warrants criminal charges if pursued.
People meanwhile started pouring in suggestions. Few are for transfusion and few cited it to be illegal. The doctors are ready to facilitate delivery but they ask an assurance that upon transfusion they won't be arrested. Unfortunately, there is a senior subordinate from Mohan's office witnessing the event. He is the same guy Mohan had suspended upon charges of unethical acts within weeks of assuming charge despite his request for leniency and a promise of good conduct in future. On top of all this is present a media person who has been reporting against Mohan for past few months as part of a conspiracy against Mohan by a local politician.
Mohan is stuck. Mohan was taught service to humanity and people in the medical school and as well as during IAS training. But saving this dying woman this way is against law and will result in criminal proceedings against Mohan and the concerned doctors.
Assuming above hypothesis as true, propose Mohan's course of action . (250 words)
20 marks
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