Work Ethics – UPSC Ethics Case Study

It is often reported in news that honest officers who expose scams or who go after the corrupt are frequently transferred to ‘not so good’ posts. This causes a sort of mental harassment to the officer and to his family too.

Will you be ready to face such frequent transfers to uphold law and impart your duty as
per rulebook? What values are needed to endure these harassments? Assuming your family suggests you to ‘compromise’ with the ruling class and stay in a place for long time so as to live a peaceful life and provide good education to your children, what will you do? Discuss. (300 Words)
It is rightly said that ‘honesty has to pay the price’. The honest officers who expose scams or who go after the corrupt are frequently transferred or face harassment from the top echelons. As a public servant I should be ready to face such frequent transfers to uphold the rule of law.
However this persistence and commitment needs a mental preparation to endure harassments. It is possible when:-
  • An individual places highest regard for service i.e. “Service before self”. Something like a soldier feels on war-front or doctor feels in operation theatre. Similarly a public servant should feel while administering.
  • An individual needs very high personal morals and needs to internalise principles of honesty and Integrity. These weapons will always immunise one from surrendering to a wrong doing and face repercussions boldly.
  • A sense of purpose, commitment to service and serving others, dedication for job and respect for law are some general values which needs to be imbibed along with patience and perseverance.
If my family suggests me to ‘compromise’ with the ruling class and stay in a place for long time so as to live a peaceful life and provide good education to my children .I will not give away to the demand. It is my duty to serve and protect the interest of my country and as well my family, but I cannot compromise one over the other.
I will talk to my family and tell them the relevance of the sacrifice they are making for a good and genuine cause. Further I will tell me family that when the children will grow up and need stable education, either I will try some stable position without making compromises or they can live separately till their education gets over. For now we need to make small compromises for a bigger cause.
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Indian Civil Services is for Indians willing to serve Civilians and hence, the transfer is a part of the job. But, unrequired, displeasing and unjustified transfers shouldn’t be encouraged and reported soon, so that it comes to attention of super-ordinates and DoPT. Hence, I will be ready to face such transfer but I will at the same time I will do following:
(1.)  Ask for justifications and reasons of transfer, whether explanation provided or not.
(2.)  I will clearly present my case, my proceedings, my progress of assignments so that, the next person taking my position in charge will benefit from my effort made in area and willing to continue.
(3.)  Clear documentation of my work before leaving.
Values needed are:
(1.)  Integrity and Honesty: Never bending away from taking easier path which leads to compromising with morality.
(2.)  Patience: Having patience to wait and watch the progress of work done.
(3.)  Faith in System
(4.)  Goodwill to work for society as it gives motivation to move on for new pastures and do good service there.
India Civil Service is more than a career choice; it’s actually a way of life and paid service to society. So, if someone joins this elite workforce then he has responsibility to deliver the duty, justice and honest implementation of all policies meant for welfare of society. For personal benefit, if a Civil servant chose to bend toward compromising with integrity then he is only an Indian but not Civil and neither doing service. He shouldn’t join Indian Civil Service.
Hence, I will ask my family that, I will only make sure that I will not be eliminated while eliminating corruption. If situation will become so grave then I will report to judicial system and exit the system. For any situation other than that I will not bend to favour ruling class in an illicit manner.

 

 

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