Case Studies – Answers (Brijendra Singh)

Case No. 1

Cheating is immoral, unethical and illegal. Hence, it is my duty to ensure that my friend does not
cheat any more. Moreover, since he has already cheated a lot, his actions must be reported to the
invigilator immediately.

I certainly cannot ignore the matter, since that would amount to abetting in an offence that gives
my friend an unfair advantage over all the other candidates in the exam. It is the duty of the
invigilator to prevent students from cheating, but the responsibility has to be shared by everyone
in the exam hall, including the students. Ignoring the matter would be akin to not reporting a
theft merely because it is the policeman’s duty to stop it.

Similarly, if our friendship is worth preserving, it will not only survive but should become
stronger. My friend will understand that by reporting him, I am trying to ensure his welfare
above all else. In the short-term, I am saving him from potential punishment and disgrace. In the
long-term, I am ensuring that such tendencies do not become a habit for him. A case in point is
the friendship of Karna and Duryodhana in the epic Mahabharata. Despite recognising that
Duryodhana was wrong, Karna supported him blindly, merely because they were good friends.
This tacit approval led to the destruction of an entire dynasty.

Hence, I would certainly report the matter. However, after the exam, I would explain my reasons
to my friend and assure him that I stand by him, to help him in any manner possible, be it
academic or financial.

(260 words)

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Case No. 2

My duty as the Quality Control Officer is to maintain the integrity of the acquisition process.
What my friend is proposing amounts to a dereliction of my duties. Hence, I would certainly
refuse his offer.

I would justify my stand by considering the following factors:

i) Accepting his offer would signify favouritism and imply a misuse of the discretionary powers
vested in me. This is not only discriminatory towards other companies but can also cause a
potential breach in national security.

ii) If the quality and pricing of his company’s instruments is better than any of the competitors,
he should not even need my intervention. He should be able to secure the orders on merit in the
open bidding process.

iii) This is not an opportunity to compromise on my principles and professional ethics but to help
my friend realise the error of his ways and, if possible, to correct him.

If my friend respects my point of view, I would let him off with a warning to not repeat such
behaviour in the future. If he persists further, I would have no option but to have him booked for
trying to bribe a govt. official.

Further, even after he withdraws his offer to me, I would enquire if the information about the
govt. signing the defence procurement deal is available in public domain. If not, I would
recommend an investigation into the same, to ensure that his company hasn’t corrupted any other
officials.

(245 words)

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Case No. 3

The case involves a conflict between Ram’s duties towards his family on the hand and towards a
fellow human being on the other. Ram must certainly do his duty as a good human being and
help the victim. It is not an easy decision to take, especially when his family’s fortunes depend
upon his employment. But it is vital that Ram understands that should he ignore the victim, even
if he secures the job offer, he will never be able to erase the guilt of have built his career at the
expense of someone’s life.

Therefore, Ram must uphold values such as empathy and compassion and help the victim. His
action would also be consistent with Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, which urges us to
treat people as an end, never as a means to an end. Ram must do for the victim what he would
expect the victim to do for him, if the situation was reversed.

Any hesitation Ram may have with regard to missing the interview can be addressed by realising
that whoever is conducting the interview would recognise that by showing this willingness to
sacrifice his personal welfare for a stranger, Ram has provided a better testament to his character
than any interview can possibly assess. This very action makes him an ideal member of any team
or organisation.

Further, should the firm reject his candidature despite knowing about the reason, Ram can take
solace in the fact that he would not have been at peace working in a firm where even such
fundamental humanitarian values are not appreciated.

(260 words)

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Case No. 4

My duty as Principal of the college is to maintain its reputation and educational quality, which
depends upon the quality of its professors. The request by the PS amounts to a quid pro quo,
making the release of the funds contingent upon an unfair intervention in the selection process.

The options available to me are:

i) Accede to the PS’s request, since the funds would ensure the greater good of the
institute.
ii) Deny his request and risk further delay in the release of funds.
iii) Approach other functionaries and seek their intervention.

The easiest option is to accede to the request. But this is potentially disastrous because:

i) It sets a poor precedent. Such requests may become more frequent in the future.
ii) It would dishearten other professors who have earned their posts by dint of hard
work.
iii) It jeopardizes the future of the students, if the professor is not competent.

Therefore, I would uphold the integrity of the process and not entertain this request. However, I
would assure the PS that this candidate would be given a fair chance like all others. If he does
not get selected, I can offer to personally assist him in preparing better for future interviews.

If the PS threatens me with unreasonable impediments in the allocation of funds, I would

approach the Cabinet Minister and request him to stop such arm-twisting tactics.

If even this does not work, I will have to take formal recourse through appropriate legal and
institutional channels. There is a likelihood that the funds may be delayed, but they certainly
cannot be denied.

(265 words)

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Case No. 5

The case involves an apparent conflict between Ms. A’s professional duties towards her
company on the one hand and her fiduciary duties towards the public at large on the other.
However, the conflict can be resolved by recognising that public welfare should always take first
priority. Hence, she must report the matter to the authorities.

Ms. A may have apprehensions about this decision if she considers the impact on the company’s
financial health and the implications for her family if she is fired. She may even try to downplay
the potential adverse effects of the waste discharge to justify her fears. But then she should also
keep in the mind the case of Union Carbide in Bhopal, where the company’s failure to address
visible symptoms led to the largest industrial disaster the world has ever seen.

Therefore, she must understand that the company’s reasoning regarding the costs of a proper
waste disposal mechanism is flawed: in a trade-off between environment and money,
environment should always come first. On a personal level, she must have the moral courage to
do what she knows to be right-silence on her part would make her an equally guilty accomplice
to any environmental and human costs that may arise.

Further, any apprehensions she may have regarding her job can be addressed by suggesting cost-
effective waste disposal systems to the management. Finally, even if the management disregards
her suggestions and fires her, she can always seek employment in another firm rather than
continuing to work in a firm where she is bound to suffer cognitive dissonance because of the
mismatch between her personal values and the company’s values.
(270 words)

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Case No. 6

The most important human right is the right to life. It is indeed our collective failure that we have
not been able to ensure quality medical care across society. Legally, we can punish the boy for
stealing the drugs but morally, we are then punishing him twice, since to begin with he is a
victim first.
The boy’s ‘stealing’ the life-saving drugs can certainly be considered illegal but it may not be
immoral in the true sense of the term. Stealing can be considered as immoral when:
i) the principal motive is greed, envy or arrogance.
ii) the act is primarily voluntary in nature, that is out of choice.
But in the given case, the boy’s act at the level of thought is not motivated by any ignoble intent
but with love and respect for human life. Hence, characterizing it as immorality may not be
prudent.
Since he has already committed the theft, the boy must hold himself legally liable for the act. He
should confess to the chemist and let the chemist decide whether to allow him time to repay for
the medicine or report him to the law enforcing authorities.
Ideally, the chemist would be expected empathize with the boy’s predicament and “hate the sin
rather than the sinner”. Since the boy stole because of compelling circumstances, it is important
to give him a chance to repent for the same rather than merely punishing him. As such, the
chemist should allow the boy a chance to repay for the medicine, in cash or in kind.
(255 words)

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Case No. 7

The case involves a conflict of duties for the couple, towards the father and towards the daughter.
The family faces a constraint of finances, making it difficult to do justice to one duty without
compromising on the other. Therefore, it is not possible to prioritise one over the other. Rather,
the couple must display sound emotional control and balance their duties towards both
individuals.

Compelling arguments can be made in favour of both sides. The father has a legitimate claim to
the family’s attention and financial resources, since he has raised, educated and nurtured the
husband. However, it is not certain how long he would stay in the coma or whether he would
ever recover from it. If the family income is drained for his treatment without any meaningful
improvement in his condition, it may seem unfair to have denied the daughter access to the same
resources, which she could have used more beneficially.

On the other hand, choosing the daughter may enable the couple to fulfil their filial duties. But
this not only amounts to unjust behaviour towards the father, it also sets a poor example for the
daughter. Implicitly, she is being taught that our elders are not a priority for us. Such poor
socialisation is likely to damage her personality development.

Therefore, the family must try to balance their duties towards both. For this, they should strive to
augment their finances in a variety of ways such as seeking alternate employment, cutting their
expenses, applying for an educational loan or a scholarship etc.
(255 words)

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Case No. 8

The case involves a violation of the chain of command by the Tehsildars to complain against the
misbehaviour of their immediate superior. Such a violation can be permitted in extenuating
circumstances, provided the complaint is true. Since the allegation has not been verified, my
objective as the DM is to enquire into its veracity before taking any action and simultaneously,
ensure the smooth functioning of the district administration.

All the given options have the same advantages- swift action and an seemingly prompt
resolution. However, they also have a common limitation- imposing a punishment without
establishing who is guilty. Therefore, I would begin by first asking the SDM concerned why
these allegations have surfaced. If he admits to misbehaviour, I can enforce a proportionate
penalty, whether a transfer or suspension.

If he maintains that he is innocent, I would look into the service records of all these officials and
consult my colleagues to ascertain whether any such matter has been reported earlier. If even
these efforts remain inconclusive, I would have to constitute an enquiry committee.

While the committee is investigating, there is a possibility that the Tehsildars may repeat their
concerns of being unable to continue working. In such a situation, I would sternly remind them
that they are govt. officers and so, they must be professional in their behaviour. Till the
investigation is completed, they should coordinate and cooperate with the SDM for the greater
good of the general public.

Finally, I would also take steps in the future to improve the work culture and ensure that such
animosity between officials does not happen again.
(265 words)

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Case No. 9

The case involves a serious, but unverified, allegation against a senior doctor. It also signifies a
poor work culture with the staff threating to strike during an epidemic. Thus, as the Director, my
twin objectives in this case are to firstly, ascertain the cause of the tragedy and secondly, to
maintain the smooth functioning of the hospital.

All the given options have the same advantages- prompt resolution and prevention of the strike.
However, they also have the following limitations:
i) As a cardiologist, I do not possess the required expertise in gynaecology. Further, my
personal involvement may create the suspicion of a bias.
ii) Taking penal action without verifying the cause would be unjust to the doctor and
would increase the possibility of a strike.
iii) Dismissing the family’s concerns indicates partiality towards my staff and increases
the risk of malpractices in the future.

Therefore, I would begin by first meeting the doctor concerned and ask him to shed light on the
incident. If he admits to having erred, I can enforce the appropriate penalty and also ask him to
restrain the staff from going on strike.

If the meeting with him remains inconclusive, I would have to constitute an enquiry committee.
To ensure its fairness, it would be composed of experts who are not working in this hospital. The
committee would be asked to conduct its investigation in a time-bound manner. If it is judicious,
an autoposy could be used as prima facie evidence to fast track the enquiry. Simultaneously, I
would use the constitution of the committee as an opportune moment to persuade the family to
accept the body for the last rites, assuring them that due diligence is being maintained in its
working.

Finally, I would also take steps in the future to improve the work culture and ensure that such
insubordinate behaviour by the staff is not repeated.
(310 words)

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Case No. 10

My objective as the DM is to resolve the traffic problems in a time-bound manner, while

simultaneously ensuring that public order is not disrupted. Some options to handle the roundel
with the temple are:
i) Relocating the temple at the govt.’s expense.
ii) Alternate traffic infrastructure, such as a flyover or a road diversion.
iii) Deploying armed personnel to curb any agitations during the demolition.

Although appealing, none of these options is financially prudent, timely or a good precedent.
Since the temple has no archaeological value and is an encroachment on public land, I would
respect the recommendations of the expert committee and begin with the demolition.

I would begin by issuing a public notice specifying the date of demolition and inviting any
objections towards the same. If there is no resistance, I would proceed with the demolition.

If the perceived resistance seems strong, I would identify those who are most vocal in their
resistance and focus my authority on them. I would tell them that I am willing to show leniency
for encroaching on public land if they demolish /relocate the temple voluntarily.

If they do not agree, I would use the CM’s political influence to persuade them and also
incentivise their cooperation, for instance by giving subsidised land, funds for construction etc. If
the resistance still does not abate, I would have no option but to consider alternate traffic
infrastructure. This would impose a financial burden on the State and set a poor precedent, but is
the only remaining option to maintain public safety.

Finally, I would ensure that any similar illegal encroachments in the city are identified and
addressed in time in the future.
(275 words)

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Case No. 11

I would tell my friend that keeping quiet in these circumstances is not only morally wrong but
also amounts to a dereliction of duties, given that any damage to the flyover could cost precious
human lives. I would advice him not to keep quiet because:

i) It amounts to a violation of public trust, since he is knowingly placing their lives

at risk.
ii) It reflects moral corruption, since any such action would be in expectation of
career benefits for himself.
iii) It is vital to enforce accountability on the superior, since there may be other
projects that have been similarly compromised- due diligence must be ensured
there too, which can be initiated only when this serious error is reported.

Thus, I would advice him to begin by explaining to his superior that no damage has been done so
far. At the moment, it is only a design flaw, which can be rectified with the investment of time
and money. The superior may earn a reprimand or penalty from the company. But any such
punishment would be considerably mild compared to the punishment he can expect if the flyover
collapses and people die. Further, admitting that he erred right now may earn him leniency in any
disciplinary proceeding, but wilful deception is likely to increase the nature of penalties.

If the superior refuses to cooperate or attempts to threaten my friend, I would advice him to
approach the superior’s superior with the facts and ask him to intervene. If he faces opposition
from the firm’s senior management too, he has the option of bringing the matter to the attention
of the concerned govt authorities and seeking corrective action.

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Case No. 12

My objective in these circumstances is not to win an election but to use my position to guide
society in the right direction. It is vital for the people to understand that an eye for an eye will
only make the world blind. Justice, not revenge, is the need of the hour.

Therefore, I would use public meetings, social media, the support of my fellow-politicians and
eminent personalities etc. to raise the following points:

i) The punishment for the sins of an individual cannot be imposed upon his family.
They will suffer in a personal capacity from the shame of being related to such a
person. But they cannot be punished by society or State for a crime of which they
neither knew anything nor were a part.
ii) The State will punish the man in the strictest form possible. But society must
enable the family to introspect upon the pain this man has caused to others and to
think about how this may have been avoided. Such reflections, if shared, will
benefit not just the family but also societal understandings of crimes and their
prevention.
iii) Retribution and excommunication will only alienate the family from the
mainstream. This is likely to create resentment towards society, which will lead to
worse problems in the future.

It will not be easy for me to put my point across to the people, especially in their present angry
state. I am likely to face strong opposition which may even lead to an electoral defeat. But it is
only by disagreeing with these unreasonable demands and trying to correct them that I can do
justice to my duty of providing lasting public welfare.

(275 words)

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Case No. 13

The case involves a trade-off between economic feasibility and environmental responsibility.
Ideally, it is environment that should take first priority. But the decision should not create an
impression of the administration being held hostage to the threats of the environmentalists.

The easiest options available to me are to either concede to their demands or to dismiss them
instantly. The state does have the resources and authority to justify either decision but neither
decision would be prudent. The first represents a waste of public resources while the second
entails the use of force against well-meaning citizens.

Therefore, I would begin by leveraging the advantage of time that I possess in this case. Since
construction on the line will commence after 5 years, I will assure the environmentalists that the
Metro Corporation will constitute a special unit to assess and minimize the environmental
damage. This unit would:

i) Maintain regular consultations with environmental experts.

ii) Coordinate with the technical divisions to minimize the felling of trees by re-
drawing the plans to the largest extent possible.
iii) Partner with citizen groups and educational institutions across the city to promote
afforestation drives.
iv) Conduct periodic social audits to assess the impact of the developments.

Such steps would minimize the environmental damage as well as the financial burden upon the
exchequer. I would request the environmentalists to repose trust in the state and cooperate with
us for a period of just one year. Upon completion of this term, if they are not satisfied with our
efforts, we would reconsider their concerns.

(255 words)

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