A case study is a comprehensive and in-depth examination of a particular subject, often within its real-life context. It serves as a methodological tool to explore, analyze, and understand complex issues or phenomena, ranging from individual experiences to organizational challenges. Typically employed in various academic disciplines, business settings, and scientific research, a case study involves an extensive investigation that aims to provide a detailed account of the subject under scrutiny. By delving into the intricate details of a specific case, researchers can uncover valuable insights, draw conclusions, and offer practical solutions. This method offers a holistic approach, allowing for a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing the subject, making it an invaluable tool for gaining knowledge and informing decision-making processes.
Q13. You are heading a district administration in a particular department. Your senior officer calls you from the State Headquarters and tells you that a plot in Rampur village is to have a building constructed on it for a school. A visit is scheduled during which he will visit the site along with the chief engineer and the senior architect. He wants you to check out all the papers relating to it and ensure that the visit is properly arranged. You examine the file which relates to the period before you joined the department. The land was acquired for the local panchayat at a nominal cost and the papers showed that clearance certificates are available for the two of the three authorities who have to certify the site’s suitability. There is no certification by the architect available on file. You decide to visit Rampur to ensure that all is in the order as stated on file. When you visit Rampur, you find that the plot under reference is a part of Thakurgarh fort and that the walls, ramparts, etc., are running across it. The fort is well away from the main village, therefore a school here will be a serious inconvenience for the children. However, the area near the village has potential to expand into a larger residential area. The development charges on the existing plot, at the fort, will be very high and the question of heritage site has not been addressed. Moreover, the Sarpanch, at the time of acquisition of the land, was a relative of your predecessor. The whole transaction appears to have been done with some vested interest. (250 Words, 25 Marks)
(a) List the likely vested interest of the concerned parties.
(b) Some of the options for action available to you are listed below. Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the options:
(i) You can await the visit of the superior officer and let him take a decision.
(ii) You can seek his advice in writing or on the phone.
(iii) You can consult your predecessor/ colleagues, etc., and then decide what to do.
(iv) 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 justifications?
Tags: Case Studies
Case Summary:
I am heading a district administration in a particular department. A visit is scheduled for my senior for a site. The land that is under consideration for school building turns out to be acquired for the local Panchayat at a nominal cost , having potential to expand into a larger residential area and is without the clearance certificates being up to the mark. Apparently, the Sarpanch, at the time of acquisition of the land, was a relative of my predecessor. The case here suggests the issue of ‘Collusive Corruption”.
Stakeholders: Head of District Administration, Superior Officer, Sarpanch, Predecessor, Certifying Authorities, Children from village who will be attending the School.
Ethical Issues/Ethical Dilemmas: Collusive Corruption, Issues with the Heritage Site.
(a) List the likely vested interest of the concerned parties.
In the above case study the land of the fort has been allocated for the school building but that land cannot be used for development purposes as it is a heritage site and also it is far from the village thus will be inconvenient for the children.
Hence the case of fraud can be placed under an example of collusive corruption between various stakeholders. The chief engineer, the senior architect and the local sarpanch may be indulged in a collaborative group in lieu of money. Also it is a case of nepotism as sarpanch and bureaucrat are relatives. It is possible that they may have obtained land with some interest to sell it later to some builder or to some third party with the motive of earning profit.
The issue here can be seen of the negligence in administering the cultural heritage and also the bigger concern of “Collusive Corruption”. The vested interests of various parties can be summed up as follows:
- Concerned Party: Sarpanch
- It is possible that the predecessor officer was colluding with Sarpanch so that the government develops the area near the village under some future development scheme so that they can sell the land at much higher price later.
- Sarpanch could acquire a larger share of the land that falls near the project so that he can have maximum financial advantage during the time of the development of a residential complex.
- Concerned Party: Predecessor
- The predecessor provided undue advantage to Sarpanch, by misusing his authority. This could have been for the financial gains by earning money illegally through approving the transaction of acquisition of land without any investigation.
- It could also be to maintain good relations with Sarpanch to have favours in case of any future investigations by the authority.
- Concerned Party: Certifying Authorities
- The two certifying authorities, certifying the suitability of plot, may have had some monetary or other gratification for approving such clearance.
- There could also be a case of financial misappropriation or shared benefits, as the plot was acquired at nominal cost.
(b) Some of the options for action available to you are listed below. Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the options:
(i) You can await the visit of the superior officer and let him take a decision: The person should wait for the visit of the superior officer as he has to authority to take the decision on the matter but in the meanwhile the person can design appropriate reports to help the senior in taking the rational decision.
Merits:
- Based on the current facts and evidence, the senior, being more experienced, may be able to take objective decisions in this regard.
- It would help in following the line of command in the bureaucratic process of decision making on an issue as sensitive as this and I will also be performing my duty efficiently.
Demerits:
- It will delay the solution of the problem.
- It will be like transferring my duty to my seniors and may portray my indecisiveness and poor problem solving abilities leading to dereliction of my duty.
(ii) You can seek his advice in writing or on the phone: Informing the senior and then seeking his advice on phone or in writing will make sure that the senior knows about the issue that the land has been acquired through wrong means. But rather than taking oral advice it should be written as its formality in the decision. But the senior may not be able to give proper advice without thoroughly checking the situation.
Merits:
- It will help in appraising the seniors of the situation and would be subjected to higher scrutiny.
- It will also help in quicker decision making as it may help in solving the issue before seniors visit the site.
- Seeking advice in writing would legitimize any order and create evidence about my non-involvement in the issue and for any future inquiry.
Demerits:
- Taking advice will again be like shifting responsibility on seniors.
- Getting written instructions may delay the process of resolution.
- Also, formal requirements of advice may result in our department getting investigated as well.
(iii) You can consult your predecessor/ colleagues, etc, and then decide what to do: Discussing the case with the colleagues or the predecessor will enable you to get to know the true picture of the situation and the circumstances under which the decision was taken. But this may make the predecessor overcautious and he may not give true advice.
Merits:
- I can know about the precise reasons behind the decisions of my predecessor.
- I will have a democratic and legal method towards problem resolution.
Demerits:
- It may not help in solving the problem, because of the interests of the predecessor.
- It will delay the decision making process.
- I will have to accept the responsibility for their actions based on their advice. Also, they may provide me with varied opinions so that I may not know of their involvement.
(iv) You can find out if any alternate plot can be got in exchange and then send a comprehensive written report: Finding an alternate plot in exchange and then sending a comprehensive written report to the senior will ensure that the school is built as providing education is very important for the development of the nation. However, the public servant in this case is not the sole authority who can acquire the plot without informing others. Though he can design a comprehensive report and can submit it to the senior
Merits:
- The ancient heritage site will be preserved and simultaneously, villagers can get much-needed school in their vicinity which would be convenient for the children.
- Sending detailed reports will help in appraising seniors on every aspect of the issue.
- I will perform my duty efficiently since the standard operating procedure will be followed in resolving the issue.
Demerits:
- Providing alternative options may conceal the vested interest of the concerned persons.
- It may lead to delay in the project as finding alternative land may be difficult.
Can you suggest any other option with proper justifications?
The best course of action would be to involve other stakeholders like the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of HRD and Archaeological Survey of India apart from discussing the matter in detail with the superiors. This would help to reach consensus and bring out a well informed decision. But simultaneously, the vested interest needs to be brought out by reopening the file and carrying out impartial investigation so that future cases of collusive corruption can be kept in check.
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