Ethical Case Studies and Examples

Ethics Vs Moral

Ethics is different from morals as it is contextual whereas morals are an individual

principle.

➔ For example, in a society it might not be ethical to be homosexual but an individual

might find it morally right to be homosexual.

Ethics in Public and Private Life

➔ Dr Raj Kumar (veteran of Kannada Cinema) never smoked or drank in any of his
200+ films. He endorsed the milk brand NANDINI free of cost to help poor farmers.

➔ Sachin Tendulkar refused to endorse an alcohol brand and a cigarette in two

separate instances.

➔ Stopping at a red traffic signal in the night when there is no traffic and no traffic police
standing there shows personal orientation and attitude towards ethics in private life.

➔ The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn

was arrested on charges of criminal sexual act and attempted rape. He was
considered by many to have done a good job in a period of intense global economic
strain, when the institution itself had become vital to the smooth running of the world
and the European economy.

➔ A retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly resigned from his post
as head of a human rights body after claims that he sexually harassed an intern in a
case.

➔ The controversial climate scientist R.K. Pachauri, who is battling charges of sexual
harassment levelled by a woman colleague, was sacked as chief of the prestigious
TERI (The Energy Resources Institute) after the scandal broke out.

HONESTY

It is the quality of being trustworthy and free from deceit.

➔ Former Dewan of Mysore Sri Visvesvaraya going by official car to tender his
resignation and returning by personal car.

➔ Satyamev Jayate - “Truth always Triumphs”; National motto which facilitates

government to act honestly & ethically.
BUSINESS ETHICS

Business ethics is the implementation of policies and procedures regarding topics

such as fraud, bribery, discrimination, conflict of interest, corporate governance etc

➔ ICICI CEO Chanda Kochhar was penalised for conflicts of interest in sanctioning
loans to entities related to her husband. (Conflict of Interest).

➔ Its recent examples include Panama and Pandora papers which revealed how
politicians and public figures created offshore shell companies to hide money in tax
havens.

➔ Naresh Goyal in case of Jet Airways.

➔ Supreme Court Judge Kurian Joseph was part of the Indian delegation that visited
the Vatican for the canonisation of Mother Teresa. He skipped the dinner that
comprised senior officials of the Italian government. He had a professional reason, to
avoid perceived conflict of interest. He is a member of the bench adjudicating the
dispute between India and Italy over the jurisdiction to try two Italian marines for
allegedly shooting two fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012. (Example of
Perceived Conflict of Interest)

➔ In 2018, a legal case was filed against Apple, Google, Dell, Tesla for manufacturing
products derived from child labour in mines in Congo.

INTERNATIONAL ETHICS

International ethics guides international relations and resolution of international

conflicts such as terrorism, territorial disputes and refugee crisis.

➔ Refugee crisis across the world due to Conflict in Syria, Yemen, Congo, Myanmar
etc, Human Rights violations of Rohingya in Myanmar, Human Rights violation Issues
in the War torn Ukraine.

➔ In a world in which over 770 million people still lack basic reading and writing skills,
Cuba is one of the few countries in the world with a literacy rate of 100 percent.

MEDIA ETHICS

Media ethics is the subdivision dealing with the specific ethical principles and
standards of media, including broadcast media, film, theatre, the arts, print media and
the internet

➔ Qatari government-owned news channel Al-Jazeera was restricted from operating in

Jammu and Kashmir by the Government of India for its biassed coverage.
PUNCTUALITY

The habit of arriving or happening at the time that has been agreed.

➔ Amitabh Bacchan is known to open the gates of studios even before watchmen did it.
Once during the release of the first look of his film Leader, he was stuck in a traffic
jam. He got off the car, ran across the street and made it for the event.

ETHICAL EXAMPLES FROM LIFES OF LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATOR

➔ TN Seshan was the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India (1990–96), who
reformed elections by largely ending its malpractices in the country and redefined the
status and visibility of the Election Commission of India. Poll changes ushered in by
him would often pit the political class and their crony media against him, the election
watchdog getting labelled in turn as - "Al-Seshan (Alsatian)." Such electoral 'battles'
would be dubbed by them as- Seshan versus Nation. But he stood his ground and
now T.N. Seshan's name has become synonymous with transparency and efficiency.
(Values - Leadership, honesty, integrity, dedication, discipline)

➔ M. Visvesvaraya always maintained two sets on candles - one set bought with
government money and other from his own money. He used the first set for doing his
official work which was extinguished at 7pm and then the other one was lit. He said
that after afterhours private reading, he could not use the government-provided
candle, but the one paid for by himself. (Values - Integrity, honesty)

➔ Armstrong Pame popularly known as Miracle Man in Manipur, first claim to fame
was when he got a 100-km stretch of road constructed in the state in 2012. He did it
without any help from the government. (Values - Leadership, dedication,
Emotional intelligence, compassion, empathy)

➔ Sonam Wangchuk, educational reformer from Ladakh, widely regarded as the

inspiration for Aamir Khan’s character, Phunsuk Wangdu in the film ‘3 Idiots’. In 1988,
Wangchuk founded the Students’ Education and Cultural Movement of Ladakh to
coach Ladakhi students, 95% of whom used to fail the government exams. In 1994,
with him in the lead, Operation New Hope was launched to consolidate the
programme. (Values- Dedication, compassion, leadership, humanism )

➔ Laxmi Agarwal, she was attacked with acid when she was 15. Laxmi started her
career as a campaigner with the Stop Acid Attacks campaign. Laxmi became a voice
of the survivors of Acid Attacks across the world. (Values - Emotional intelligence,
compassion, courage, humanism )

➔ Murlidhar Devidas Amte, commonly known as Baba Amte, was an Indian social
worker and social activist known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and
empowerment of people suffering from leprosy. He has received numerous awards
and prizes including the Padma Vibhushan and the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
(Values - Compassion, empathy)
 which influenced her and brought out that behaviour which helped her achieve
whatever she is today.

➔ When the whole world was critical of us and waiting for our downfall, it was Abdul
Kalam, who dreamt of India as a Nuclear power. That India which makes the world
turn its head towards us. It was that positive attitude in him that convinced the
government of the day of Atal Bihari Vajpayee to approve a critical Nuclear test i.e.
Pokhran-2.

➔ Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at 21 which paralysed him head to toe.
This does not prevent him from being one of the greatest scientists of all time.

➔ Social disapproval of Khap Panchayat in several villages has led to their changing
attitude towards dealing with problems and patriarchal mindset.

➔ During my early days in college hostel, I was afraid of dogs. A small puppy used to sit
outside my room which I occasionally used to feed. Slowly I developed an affection
towards it and my attitude towards dogs changed.

APTITUDE

It is the ability, capability of a person which is inborn, innate based on nature not
nurture.

➔ Sporting greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Abhinav Bindra & Neeraj Chopra
etc. are examples of persons with very high aptitude in their respective sports.

PERSUASION

The action or process of persuading someone or of being persuaded to do or

believe something.

➔ Pictorial warning on a cigarette packet invokes fear to persuade smokers to quit

smoking.

➔ Randip Guleria, AIIMS Director, was seen on TV persuading people to take

COVID-19 vaccine.

➔ Swachh Bharat Mission focused on persuasion to change the behaviour of people

regarding cleanliness.

➔ Beti Bachao Beti Padao – To change the attitude of people towards girl students.
Selfie with Daughters to promote Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao.

➔ Celebration of Earth Day – To persuade global citizens against climate change.

➔ Shop picketing during Swadeshi and boycott movement.

NON-PARTISANSHIP

Lack of affiliation with any party, group or cause.

➔ Non Alignment Movement during the era of cold war.

➔ The idea of “a committed bureaucracy” was floated by Indira Gandhi, striking at the
very rationale for neutrality.

➔ Janta Darbar (Public hearings) organised by various Chief Ministers, every citizen is
allowed to raise their grievances without any preferential treatment.

➔ Chhattisgarh police inducted transgender persons as Constables in the State Police

Force.

➔ Mr. Kuvempu as a vice-chancellor of Mysore University didn’t use his position to pass
his son in the BA exam.

➔ Judges recusing themselves from cases where there is conflict of interest.

➔ Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (6th President of India and twice Lok Sabha Speaker), was
the first ever Speaker to quit his party on being Elected as a Speaker. He also
conducted the proceedings so smoothly that not even once during his tenure,
opposition staged a walkout.

➔ Universal Adult Franchise provided voting rights to all above the age of 18, without
any partiality towards a group, sex, caste, religion, or social status.

➔ Former President of India, Mr. K. R. Narayanan underscored his non-partisanship by

declining the United Front Prime Minister’s recommendations to dismiss the BJP
government of UP.

➔ An Imphal based NGO that had created India’s first transgender football team.

➔ SC Bose resigned from civil services in 1920 because if he worked for English as
Civil Servant then there would have been Conflict of Interest between his National
Goal and Goal of System.

IMPARTIALITY

It is a principle holding that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather

than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or possible benefits based on illicit reasons

➔ The Supreme Court gave Ajmal Kasab a fair trial despite him participating in Mumbai
Terror attacks.

➔ Judges recusing themselves from cases where they feel there is a conflict of interest.

➔ Despite having differences with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Nehru chose him in his cabinet.
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