The Supreme Court has banned mining in the Aravalli Hills to stop degradation of the forest cover and to maintain ecological balance. However, the stone mining is still prevalent in the border district of the affected State with connivance of certain corrupt forest officials and politicians. Young and dynamic SP who was recently posted in the affected district promised to himself to stop this menace. In one of his surprise checks with his team, he found loaded truck with stone trying to escape the mining area. He tried to stop the truck but the truck driver overran the police officer, killing him on the spot and thereafter managed to flee. Police filed an FIR but no breakthrough was achieved in the case for almost three months. Ashok who was the Investigative Journalist working with leading TV channel, suo moto started investigating the case. Within one month, Ashok got breakthrough by interacting with local people, stone mining masia and government officials. He prepared his investigative story and presented it to the CMD of the TV channel. He exposed in his investigative report the complete nexus of the stone mafia working with the blessing of corrupt police and civil officials and politicians. The politician who was involved in the mafia was no one else but a local MLA who was considered to be very close to the Chief Minister. After going through the investigative report, the CMD advised Ashok to drop the idea of making the story public through electronic media. He informed that the local MLA was not only the relative of the owner of the TV channel but also had unofficially 20 percent share in the channel. The CMD further informed Ashok that his further promotion and hike in pay will be taken care of in addition the soft loan of 10 lakhs which he has taken from the TV channel for his son’s chronic disease will be suitably adjusted if he hands over the investigative report to him. • What are the options available to Ashok to cope up with the situation? • Critically evaluate/examine each of the options identified by Ashok. • What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ashok? • Which of the options, do you think, would be the most appropriate for Ashok to adopt and why? • (e)In the above scenario, what type of training would you suggest for police officers posted to such districts where stone mining illegal activities are rampant? UPSC IAS Mains 2022 General Studies (Paper – 4)
The case study deals with the issue of illegal mining and associated law and order menace. It also involves journalistic ethics, collusive corruption, Mining mafia and politician nexus, ecological balance, ensuring compliance to Hon. Supreme Court order.
Options
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Options
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Merits
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Demerits
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A. Follow the advice of CMD
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1. Salary hike and promotion.
2. Soft loan will be passed for treatment of son’s chronic disease.
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1. Loss of conscience.
2. Injustice with the SP.
3. Loss of free media.
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B. Make the report public
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1. Ashok’s popularity as a journalist will increase.
2. Justice will be given to SP and his family.
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1. May be loss of job.
2. May face death threat from mafia.
3. May be expelled from the job.
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C. Resign and find other avenues
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1. Ashok’s conscience won’t be dead.
2. He can publicize the report through YouTube.
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1. No money for son’s health treatment. Even he could die.
2. He may be unemployed for some time.
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Ethical dilemmas being faced by Ashok
- Personal growth vs Social justice-He will get salary hike and promotion, but it will injustice to the SP’s family. The criminals will never be punished.
- His son’s wellbeing vs Free Media-He will get soft loan for his son’s health treatment, but democracy’s 4th pillar will be dead.
- Corruption vs Justice to SP’s family-The nexus between corrupt politicians and mafias will further grow. In future, police officials will feel under-confident in taking harsh actions.
- Nexus vs Morality-The morality and ethics of Ashok will be dead. In future, more mafias will emerge.
Most Appropriate Option for Ashok
- Option C is most appropriate for Ashoka. He should resign from his post and make the report public by starting his YouTube channel.
- Besides that, he should also apply for job in other media channel also.
- In this way, the truth behind the nexus of media channel, corrupt politicians, civil officals and sand mafia will come to the surface.
Type of training for police officers posted to such districts
- Vehicle driving training module in difficult terrain.
- Training for usage of modern technologies such as drones for surveillance.
- Modern weaponry and training should be provided.
- Standard Operating Procedures for raiding at such sites.
- 24x7 Full support and communication channels from central control room should be there.
India is a democratic country and media is said to be the 4th pillar of democracy. Hence, it is the responsibility of the media to publish the true reports and expose the corrupt people. Media is the one who brings out evidence and only after that judiciary can give judgements.
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