Q. The Supreme Court has banned mining in the Aravalli Hills to stop degradation the forest cover and to maintain ecological balance.
However, the stone mining to 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 overrun the police officer, killing him on the spot and thereafter managed to flee. Police filed 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 to the CMD of the TV channel. He exposed in his investigative report the complete nexus of stone mafia working with blessing of corrupt police and civil officials and politicians. The politician who was involved in the mafia was no one else but 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.
(a) What are the options available with Ashok to cope up with the situation?
(b) Critically evaluate/examine each of the options identified by Ashok.
(c) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ashok?
(d) 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?
Question from UPSC Mains 2022 GS4 Paper
Model Answer:
(a) Options available with Ashok to cope up with the situation:
- Comply with the CMD’s demand and hand over the report:
Ashok can choose to follow the CMD’s instructions, hand over the investigative report, and accept the incentives offered by the CMD. - Seek alternative media channels to expose the story:
Ashok can explore other independent media channels or online platforms to share his story and expose the corrupt nexus. - Approach law enforcement or anti-corruption agencies:
Ashok can report the case and provide the evidence to appropriate law enforcement or anti-corruption agencies to ensure action against the perpetrators. - Whistleblowing:
Ashok can become a whistleblower and anonymously release the information to the public, ensuring the story reaches a wider audience.
(b) Critical evaluation of the options identified by Ashok:
- Comply with the CMD’s demand and hand over the report:
Pros: Ashok’s job security, pay hike, and loan adjustment are guaranteed.
Cons: It compromises Ashok’s journalistic integrity, the story remains hidden, and the corrupt individuals continue their illegal activities. - Seek alternative media channels to expose the story:
Pros: The story gets exposed, and Ashok maintains his journalistic integrity.
Cons: Possible backlash from the CMD, the TV channel, and the politician, resulting in potential job loss and loan repayment issues. - Approach law enforcement or anti-corruption agencies:
Pros: Proper legal action can be taken against the corrupt individuals.
Cons: Possible backlash from the involved parties, uncertainty about the effectiveness of the agencies, and potential negative consequences for Ashok’s career. - Whistleblowing:
Pros: The story gets exposed without directly linking Ashok to it, and the corrupt individuals face public scrutiny.
Cons: Risk of being identified as the whistleblower, potential backlash, and career consequences.
(c) Ethical dilemmas faced by Ashok:
- Personal gain vs. public interest:
Ashok must decide between accepting incentives offered by the CMD or acting in the public interest by exposing the corrupt nexus. - Loyalty to employer vs. journalistic integrity:
Ashok must weigh his loyalty to his employer against his commitment to unbiased reporting and the principles of journalism. - Fear of retaliation vs. exposing corruption:
Ashok must consider the potential retaliation from the involved parties and the consequences on his career if he chooses to expose the corruption.
(d) Most appropriate option for Ashok:
Option 2, seeking alternative media channels to expose the story, seems the most appropriate for Ashok. This option allows him to maintain his journalistic integrity and expose the corruption while still taking a stand against the powerful and influential parties involved. It is important for Ashok to prioritize the public interest over personal gain.
(e) Training suggestions for police officers posted in districts with rampant illegal stone mining activities:
- Specialized Training in Illegal Mining:
Train officers in understanding the complexities of illegal mining, including its environmental and social impacts. - Intelligence Gathering Techniques:
Training in modern intelligence gathering techniques, such as electronic surveillance, data analysis, and undercover operations to dismantle illegal mining networks. - Legal Framework and Enforcement:
Educate officers on the legal framework governing mining activities and ways to enforce the law effectively. - Inter-Agency Coordination:
Train officers to collaborate and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies, government departments, and local communities to combat illegal mining activities. - Ethics and Anti-Corruption Training:
Emphasize the importance of integrity, ethics, and transparency in policing, and provide officers with tools to resist corruption and report unethical behavior.
