GS4 (Case study)
There was a fire at Central Ammunition Depot (CAD), Pulgaon recently which claimed the lives of two Army officers, one Army jawan and 13 civilian firefighting staff. You are the Director General of Military Operations. The investigation by Army’s Court of Inquiry reveals no evidence of sabotage or a short circuit causing the fire. The investigation documents claim that some of the decisions taken by you in the past were not altogether correct. There were others also who were party to these decisions. If these documents are made public it will lead to disciplinary action with possibility of punishment against you as well as your colleagues. However, these documents can be camouflaged to mislead the public resulting into no punishment for you.
Otherwise you are an honest and conscientious officer. But this particular decision turned out to be wrong.
The following are the courses of action available to you. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each option.
1. You can refer the matter to your superior and seek his advice and act strictly in accordance with the advice, even if you are not completely in agreement with the advice of your superior.
2. You could proceed on leave and leave the matter to be dealt by your successor in office or request for transfer.
3. You can weigh the consequences of disclosing the information truthfully, including the effect on your career, and reply in a manner that would not place you or your career in jeopardy, but at the same time a little compromise can be made on the contents of the information.
4. You can consult other colleagues who are party to the decision and take action as per their advice.
Also please indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options) what you would like to advise, giving proper reasons.
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Best answer
Simran Bains wrote the best answer for this question and got a score of 4.5/10 (if the best answer is an image, it cannot be uploaded here, hence scroll down to see those). The answer is being reproduced below for everyone’s convenience. Of course these answers can always be improved. (Best answer of a particular only involves those given on that day, later answers may not have been checked)
The given situation gives an opportunity to the official to reflect upon his PROBITY and HONESTY.
The COURSE OF ACTIONS available are,
1. SEEKING SUPERIOR’S ADVICE.
MERITS
•Following proper channel by bringing the matter to superior. Following Code of conduct.
•Since I’m seeking his help and obeying his advice, chances are bright that he might save me.
•Avoid of conflict of interest as I’ll abide by advice.
DEMERITS
•Might go against my concise.
•Conflict of opinions may arise.
2.GOING ON LEAVE,
MERITS
•I’ll be saved from punishment and outrage.
•Job will be secured.
•No blot on my image of an HONEST OFFICER.
DEMERITS
•Running away from my duties and responsibilities.
•Not being able to present my case effectively and properly.
•Evasion of accountability.
3.DISCLOSING TRUTH BY COMPROMISING ON CONTENT OF INFORMATION
MERITS
•My image will not be battered.
•I won’t face punishments.
•Good for career progression.
DEMERITS
•Compromising on the pledge that I’ve taken for the services to uphold the principles of upholding honesty, transparency and integrity.
•Tampering with evidences and information is itself a crime.
•Lack of peace of mind because of the wrong doings.
4.CONSULTING WITH COLLEAGUES
MERITS
•Burden of decision making will be shared.
•Consulting others provides a wider view on the issue.
DEMERITS
•Chances of influence on the authenticity of the information.
•Unethical decision might be taken up as everybody will try to save themselves.
MY COURSE OF ACTION WILL BE,
To prepare a report on the decision I took, which went wrong. The reason behind taking such decisions. And openly ADMITTING of the mistakes on my part. It was an honest mistake that was committed and as an honest officer it becomes my responsibility to boldly accept my mistake without tampering the information. Once the report is prepared, I’ll present it to my seniors for further enquiry. Though doing such thing might have implications on my career but that does not deviate me from the right path. My past work profile clearly tells about my integrity and dedication, and now it is upto the enquiring committee to consider my decisions and my intentions behind those decisions.
