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07 Aug 2025
GS Paper 4
Case Studies
Day 46: You are Razia, an IAS officer posted as the Deputy Commissioner of a district undergoing the final phase of a citizenship verification process (such as the NRC). Thousands of people are excluded from the final list, many of whom are daily wage workers, marginal farmers, and women with incomplete documentation due to poverty, illiteracy, or displacement during floods.
Among the excluded are families who have been residing in the region for decades. There are widespread protests and growing communal tensions. Some groups accuse the administration of bias and targeting minorities, while others demand firm action to protect “indigenous identity.”
Your report to the state government is expected to be strictly objective, but you are personally aware that many of the excluded families are likely genuine citizens. Your junior officer suggests manipulating some data to “correct obvious errors,” but it would violate legal protocol.
A. What are the ethical conflicts Razia is facing in this situation?
B. Evaluate the short-term and long-term consequences of the following actions:
a. Manipulating records to include genuinely excluded people
b. Strictly adhering to documentation rules despite humanitarian concerns
c. Recommending a fresh field verification exercise
C. What decision should Razia take? Justify it with reference to ethical principles and professional conduct. (250 words)
Approach :
- Briefly introduce the situation to establish context.
- Identify the ethical conflicts faced by Razia in the current situation.
- Evaluate the short-term and long-term consequences of the given actions.
- Recommend the suitable course of action.
- Justify it with ethical reasoning.
- Conclude with a suitable way forward.
Introduction:
Razia, as the Deputy Commissioner, is tasked with overseeing the final phase of a sensitive citizenship verification process in a district marked by poverty and displacement. Thousands have been excluded due to incomplete documentation, sparking protests and communal tensions. She must navigate the challenge of ensuring fairness while adhering to legal protocols amid pressure to manipulate data.
Body :
A. Ethical Conflicts Faced by Razia
- Truth vs. Compassion: Legal adherence vs. humanitarian concern for vulnerable people.
- Integrity vs. Pragmatism: Refusing to manipulate records despite pressure.
- Objectivity vs. Advocacy: Reporting facts vs. acknowledging social injustice.
- Justice vs. Social Harmony: Fair citizenship decisions vs. managing communal tensions.
- Rule of Law vs. Flexibility: Following legal procedures vs. adapting for vulnerable groups.
B. Options and Consequences
- (a) Manipulating Records to Include Excluded People
- Short-term: Protects genuine citizens; reduces protests.
- Long-term: Undermines legal sanctity; risks administrative backlash; damages public trust.
- (b) Strictly Adhering to Documentation Rules
- Short-term: Maintains administrative order and legal protocol.
- Long-term: Causes injustice; increases social unrest; harms vulnerable communities.
- (c) Recommending Fresh Field Verification
- Short-term: Delays finalisation; may ease tensions.
- Long-term: Ensures accuracy and fairness; strengthens credibility; costly but ethically sound.
C.Recommended Course of Action
- Advocate for a fresh field verification exercise to balance legal integrity and humanitarian concern.
- Avoid data manipulation but ensure an inclusive, transparent process.
- Engage with community leaders, civil society, and affected families to reduce tensions.
- Maintain professionalism while showing empathy.
- Document all pressures or attempts to manipulate data.
- Escalate to higher authorities or vigilance bodies if interference persists.
Ethical Justification
- Duty Ethics: Obligation to uphold truth, fairness, and legal compliance.
- Justice: Protect the rights of the marginalized and vulnerable.
- Transparency and Accountability: Ensure an open, credible process.
- Compassion: Respect human dignity beyond documentation.
- Rule of Law: Uphold legal protocols consistently.
Conclusion:
Guided by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of Satya (truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence), Razia must uphold truthfulness in her reporting and decision-making, resisting any temptation to manipulate data. She should act with compassion towards excluded individuals, ensuring their dignity is respected without compromising ethical standards. This path of moral courage and non-violent resistance to pressure preserves both justice and social harmony.
