GS-4 · Case Studies Based on Public Sector Ethics

2) Some of the options for action available to you are listed below. Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the options : 1)You can await the visit of the superior officer and let him take a decision. 2) You can seek his advice in writing or on phone. 3) You can consult your predecessor/colleagues, etc., and then decide what to do. 4)You can find out if any alternate plot can be got in exchange and then send a comprehensive written report. Can you suggest any other option with proper justification? There is a disaster-prone State having frequent landslides, forest fires, cloudbursts, flash floods and earthquakes, etc. Some of these are seasonal and often unpredictable. The magnitude of the disaster is always unanticipated. During one of the seasons, a cloudburst caused devastating floods and landslides leading to high casualties. There was major damage to infrastructure like roads, bridges and power generating units. This led to more than 100000 pilgrims, tourists and other locals trapped across different routes and locations. The people trapped in your area of responsibility included senior citizens, patients in hospitals, women and children, hikers, tourists, ruling party, regional president along with his family, additional chief secretary of the neighboring state and prisoners in jail. As a civil services officer of the State, what would be the order in which you would rescue these people and why? Give justifications.