Being the director of home department of the bordering State, it is the duty of Ramesh to ensure the security of State as well as national security. The issue of illegal migration needs to dealt seriously given its hazardous impact in the form of resource pressure, illegal activities pursued by migrants, chances of ethnic conflicts, forced change in demography, etc.

(b) Options available to Ramesh as the director of home department of the bordering State

• To toe the line of Additional Secretary and taking back the report
• To approach the Chief secretary and if required the Home Minister
• To send copy of a report to Central Home Ministry

(c) Ramesh should adopt option 2 and keep option 3 as last report if nothing fruitful is achieved in second option.

• Firstly, this will clearly highlight his dedication and commitment to public service, courage of conviction and respect for constitutional morality. Ensuring security of citizens and the country is the primary duty of civil servants.
• Secondly, it might lead to a swift action on part of Chief secretary or Minister to deal with the menace of illegal migration both on ground of responsibility as well as to avoid it from harming the election prospects of ruling party in next elections.
• The corrupt higher officials as well as security personnel on border posts might also be dealt stringently for abusing their positions for personal gains and staking the security of State.
• He can even raise the issue of forging of documents on large scale
• It might lead to personal difficulties if Chief Secretary/Minister also ask him to take back his report as he might get punishment posting out of the city making treatment of his mother and studies of his children difficult. But while joining the State civil service, Ramesh was aware that he might have to deal with such situations but still he joined given the primacy he accorded to public service over personal interest. Alternate arrangements can be made such as arranging accommodation for family in the city only.

(c) Critical evaluation of all options

1. To toe the line of Additional Secretary and taking back the report-

(a) Merits

• His appointment as director and posting in the city will be secure
• Good relations with the senior

(b) Demerits

• Lack of personal and professional integrity
• Compromise of security of state having serious repercussions in future
• Crisis of conscience- will take peace of his life

2. To approach the Chief secretary and if required the Home Minister

(a) Merits

• Primacy to national security
• Problem of illegal migration might be dealt promptly
• Expose wrongdoings in the home department

(b) Demerits

• No action might be taken even by them
• Punishment posting
• Personal interest will be hurt

3. To send copy of a report to Central Home Ministry

(a) Merits

• Shows courage of conviction
• Man of probity
• National interest and state security might be ensured with Centre’s intervention

(b) Demerits

• Hostile relations with state bureaucracy
• Show State government in bad light for its inaction and sitting over the report

Ethical dimensions being faced by Ramesh:

• Menace of illegal migration
• Corruption of security personnel
• Forging of documents
• Law and order problem in future
• Pressure from seniors to withdraw the report, highlighting poor institutional integrity and institutionalization of corruption
• Conflict of interest (public interest v personal difficulties)
• Policy measures to combat the menace of infiltration of illegal migrants from neighbouring country
• Strengthening the protection of border areas by increasing use of technology (lasers, thermal imaging)
• Zero tolerance against corrupt officials
• Bilateral talks and cooperation with the neighbouring country
• Working out options of legalizing migration through work permits, if possible, as using them as asset

Thus, multi-pronged approach will be required for a sustainable and permanent solution to menace of illegal migration.