You are working as Commissioner of Police in the capital city. Recently wife of an influential politician of ruling party was found dead in a five star hotel. Circumstantial evidence has shown that it is a murder. You are under tremendous pressure to delay the probe. At the same time you are also being pressurized by the opposition party to expedite the probe. Some sections of media have also alleged that you are going slow on the probe intentionally. You are known for your honesty and integrity throughout your career. Though you want to speed up the process, some officers involved in investigating the case are biased and are delaying the whole investigation and bringing bad repute to you by selectively leaking false information to the media. In situation like this, what will you do to ensure fair probe of the case? Justify your answer. (200 Words)
As the issue is complex involving politicians and media together as well as delicate. It has to be addressed with utmost FAIR and ETHICAL manner possible. My course of action being a Commissioner of Police would be to ensure following key points with justification:-
- Fairness in all my proceedings, removing all biasness between me and subordinates to ensure there is no communication gap and they are not biased, timely review of the progress. Updating my superiors about ground scenarios and keeping them in loop.
- Ensuring to take Individual responsibility for leadership and available for everyone every time, cooperation between various department like forensic, investigation etc.
- In case of any legal dilemma, resort to Constitution and Statute of law. No action which is unconstitutional or against law I would let be done under my supervision.
- Setting deadlines and timely review for progress, if any difficulty probe will be geared up by more man and material.
- Setting honesty and integrity as ideal while doing probe, shielding the police department from unnecessary media confrontation, strict advice to subordinates not to reply to media except in Press conference and to utilize time. Asking Media to take this issue sensitively and not resort to yellow journalism and media trial.
- Making subordinates feel that I and law is with them. It will give confidence and morale strength to do right.
- Use of scientific approach like NATGRID database, phone interception, mobile tracking, taking support of ISP and mail hosting website to track for any evidence or clue.
All in all, as a Commissioner of Police, my area of jurisdiction would be my police department. I will make sure, we deliver best possible effort toward achieving concrete investigation without any biasness, pressure and in time. Because, justice delayed is unjustice.
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Leadership skills needed. Morale of subordinates to be boosted. Make my intentions clear to unwilling team members and seek their best efforts.
What do you understand by non-partisanship in public administration? How will you ensure non-partisanship in administration when you become an IAS officer? Elucidate. (200 Words)
Non-partisanship in public administration means not to side with any group. For a public servant, rule of law should guide his conduct irrespective of his personal preferences. Use of discretionary powers should be guided by ethical guidelines implicit in the constitution like fundamental duty and directive principles of state policy. As an IAS officer I will take the following steps: –
- Maintaining contact with industrialist, builders, NGOs, politicians etc. only at the professional level via meetings, conferences etc. and not at the personal level.
- Ensuring transparency via a website for my department where all decisions and reasons for taking the decision will be uploaded real time.
- Ensuring accountability by assigning time bound tasks to officers and monitoring the progress.
- Citizens participation via 24×7 helpline and regular meetings with civil society.
- Creating a citizen’s charter which will be derived from the ethics implicit in the constitution and which will serve as guideline in cases where the law is ambiguous. This will help my department in successfully navigating the “grey areas”.
Thus by leading by example, laying guidelines for the exercise of discretionary powers and by promoting transparency, accountability and citizen’s participation I will ensure non-partisanship in administration