Total Questions : 1
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Case Study
Ms. Kavya Iyer is serving as the District Magistrate of a rapidly urbanising district. Recently, a video clip went viral on social media allegedly showing police personnel using excessive force against a group of migrant workers protesting delayed wages at a construction site.
Within hours, the issue gained national attention. Several media channels began running prime-time debates accusing the district administration of human rights violations. Hashtags demanding suspension of officials started trending online. Civil society groups organised protests, demanding immediate action.
However, a preliminary internal report suggests that the video clip is selectively edited and does not capture the full sequence of events. According to field officers, the situation had turned violent, and minimal force was used to control the mob and prevent damage to public property.
Meanwhile, political leaders from opposition parties visit the site and publicly criticise the administration, demanding immediate suspension of the police officers involved. On the other hand, police officials feel demoralised and argue that any punitive action without a fair inquiry will undermine morale and embolden lawbreakers.
The State Government informally advises Ms. Iyer to take “quick visible action” to control the narrative and prevent escalation, even if the facts are not fully verified.
At the same time, there are genuine concerns about delayed wage payments to migrant workers, which triggered the protest in the first place.
Ms. Iyer must decide how to respond to the situation, balancing truth, justice, public perception, and administrative responsibility.
Questions
1. What are the ethical issues involved in this case?
2. What options are available to Ms. Iyer? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each.
3. What should be the most appropriate course of action for Ms. Iyer? Justify your answer in terms of ethical values, administrative neutrality, and public trust.
GS Paper 4 Case Studies
