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Case : You are a member of an online forum. One day while wasting time online, very close to a top government recruitment exam, you see that some of your oldest online friends and certain other members are openly discussing about sharing the cost of a Rs.2,50,000 bribe that they are planning to pay to a mole in the examination authority to buy the actual question papers.
When you confront them, they say that they were just joking and wrap up the discussion quickly. You find that they have been asking for each other's mobile phone numbers to be exchanged over private messages and were even planning to meet up at a famous ORN eatery the next evening with the money.
What are your options. Discuss the merits and demerits of each. (200 words)
[The premise is stupid, I know, but the case is attempt-worthy. ]
Haha. You're salute-worthy for having conceived such a case. Ok we have 3 options in front of us:
Option A: Confrontation - Since it is a top government exam, it's only a matter of time before such a racket gets busted. - One shouldn't hesitate to confront or even threaten his/her friends, if it is for their own good. - Course of Action: - Reach said ORN eatery the next evening. Join the conversation. Openly ask them if they have such intentions. - Make a strong pitch quoting legal consequences, IPC Codes, Court judgments in similar cases, sentences and all that ordeal. - Also, as one would be ineligible for government employment if he’s charge sheeted, ask them to stop messing with the golden goose. - If they rubbish your advice, approach the mole yourself (This is assuming you’ve overheard his name at least) and advise him to stay away from these folks as they have a bad history of messing up and getting caught. That should alert him. - Still not working? Try threatening your friends and the mole, in that order, saying you would expose it on the social media and reveal their identities to the commission. This should make both the parties shitbrix! - In any case, follow up with some moral persuasion as they’re your friends after all. Paint them a beautiful picture where they get selected in the exam legitimately, get married, have 7-16 kids per head at least and lead happy lives and more importantly, contrast this with a scary picture of their silly racket getting busted, doing time in prison, damaging their parent’s reputation and ending up as epic failures.
Option B: Letting it slide - It means you’re passively abetting them. Morally wrong. Good chance of getting caught yourself for having participated in the discussion that night and NOT reporting it. - In case only your friends get caught, your inaction in confronting/stopping them will come back to haunt you. Guilt with a capital G.
Option C: Abetting yo homies, because YOLO, right? - Morally and legally wrong. - If you’re planning to go ahead with this, ATB bro! Prison food ain’t that bad, I guess.
'You' in this case does not refer to a particular person/place/pokemon. It’s only used as a placeholder. Thanks.
@buckethead : Thank you. Option A it is. But I'll do it in the following way -
Go to the eatery > Confirm the plot by pretending to be in > Once confirmed, confront them all > Ask them to complain to the police about the mole > If they disagree, just report the matter to the police and be prepared to be a witness in court.
You are a Probationary Officer in a Public Sector Bank and you have been transferred to a branch located in Naxal affected area. On the very first day, while returning from work, you were stopped by a Naxal group. They sought 25% of your salary as ‘protection money’ which should be paid every month, and if you fail, you will be killed by the group without offering you any second chance. You are an IAS aspirant managing your preparation along with the work pressure. You are from a very poor family and this job has brought a ray of hope to you and your parents. You are unmarried though.
The local police is aware of this Naxal problem, which is common in the region, yet they are not taking any action for fear of their own lives and corruption.
What will be your course of action in this circumstance ?
The issues involved in this scenario are of courage and self-dignity. Giving the money to them will encourage such activities by them and moreover it will give a feeling of self-guilt for lifetime not having stood for what is right.
So, the course of action will be : 1. I will formally lodge a complaint with police of such threat and inform higher authorities including DM/SSP.
2. On next encounter with Naxals, I will try to show to them the futility of such actions and make strong pitch for them to join mainstream life.
3. I will buy a good life insurance cover to ensure financial safety for my family.
4. I will enroll in self defence classes like martial arts/krav maga and be prepared to fight them when need arises.
Option 5 (not possible) : Pay up and keep working. Paying would lead to funding naxalites.
Option 6 (practical) : Inform the head office and ask for protection. If local police itself can't provide protection, then you would have to consider leaving the area for your own safety. Banking isn't a life-or-death issue requiring you to put your own life on the line.
First part of option 6 looks better, but again in second part, won't leaving the area encourage Naxals? Also my replacement will have to face similar problems. Moreover what if in my next place of posting, some goon will threaten me for 'hafta' and police won't help I still feel training oneself will help in fighting :-)
First part of option 6 looks better, but again in second part, won't leaving the area encourage Naxals? Also my replacement will have to face similar problems. Moreover what if in my next place of posting, some goon will threaten me for 'hafta' and police won't help I still feel training oneself will help in fighting :-)
Fighting guns with Krav Maga might sound heroic, but it's not. Most companies are responsible enough not to force staff to work in these areas. They can arrange for bank-on-wheels on specific days under police protection (option 7 for banks) for these areas.
Leaving permanent postings by non-essential civilian staff till naxals are driven out is the only feasible strategy. Chances of kidnapping, murder, extortion, targeted attacks, etc. are less.
This is also not a bad idea for the individual with a poor dependent family. If he pays, then he encourages them too. If he doesn't pay but stays back, he'll leave in a cosy box. Third option is my option 6.
My answer tries to be more practical than heroic. Discretion is the better side of valour.
@buckethead : Thank you. Option A it is. But I'll do it in the following way -
Go to the eatery > Confirm the plot by pretending to be in > Once confirmed, confront them all > Ask them to complain to the police about the mole > If they disagree, just report the matter to the police and be prepared to be a witness in court.
Wrong options to be listed as required.
Snitching
That's what UPSC wants to hear, apparently. That's the only 'legally tenable' argument.
@buckethead : Thank you. Option A it is. But I'll do it in the following way -
Go to the eatery > Confirm the plot by pretending to be in > Once confirmed, confront them all > Ask them to complain to the police about the mole > If they disagree, just report the matter to the police and be prepared to be a witness in court.
Wrong options to be listed as required.
Snitching
That's what UPSC wants to hear, apparently. That's the only 'legally tenable' argument.
Similar scenario happened in rpsc this time few guys tagged along to see if the paper was available. When they actually got the paper they planned on making extra money. The whole village topped the exam. All of them got caught, chairman is under scrutiny and press which printed papers is sealed shut.
Good for Rajasthan; good for India - the action, that is.
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Comments
Haha. You're salute-worthy for having conceived such a case.
Ok we have 3 options in front of us:
Option A: Confrontation
- Since it is a top government exam, it's only a matter of time before such a racket gets busted.
- One shouldn't hesitate to confront or even threaten his/her friends, if it is for their own good.
- Course of Action:
- Reach said ORN eatery the next evening. Join the conversation. Openly ask them if they have such intentions.
- Make a strong pitch quoting legal consequences, IPC Codes, Court judgments in similar cases, sentences and all that ordeal.
- Also, as one would be ineligible for government employment if he’s charge sheeted, ask them to stop messing with the golden goose.
- If they rubbish your advice, approach the mole yourself (This is assuming you’ve overheard his name at least) and advise him to stay away from these folks as they have a bad history of messing up and getting caught. That should alert him.
- Still not working? Try threatening your friends and the mole, in that order, saying you would expose it on the social media and reveal their identities to the commission. This should make both the parties shitbrix!
- In any case, follow up with some moral persuasion as they’re your friends after all. Paint them a beautiful picture where they get selected in the exam legitimately, get married, have 7-16 kids per head at least and lead happy lives and more importantly, contrast this with a scary picture of their silly racket getting busted, doing time in prison, damaging their parent’s reputation and ending up as epic failures.
Option B: Letting it slide
- It means you’re passively abetting them. Morally wrong. Good chance of getting caught yourself for having participated in the discussion that night and NOT reporting it.
- In case only your friends get caught, your inaction in confronting/stopping them will come back to haunt you. Guilt with a capital G.
Option C: Abetting yo homies, because YOLO, right?
- Morally and legally wrong.
- If you’re planning to go ahead with this, ATB bro! Prison food ain’t that bad, I guess.
'You' in this case does not refer to a particular person/place/pokemon. It’s only used as a placeholder. Thanks.
Go to the eatery > Confirm the plot by pretending to be in > Once confirmed, confront them all > Ask them to complain to the police about the mole > If they disagree, just report the matter to the police and be prepared to be a witness in court.
Wrong options to be listed as required.
You are a Probationary Officer in a Public Sector Bank and you have been transferred to a branch located in Naxal affected area. On the very first day, while returning from work, you were stopped by a Naxal group. They sought 25% of your salary as ‘protection money’ which should be paid every month, and if you fail, you will be killed by the group without offering you any second chance. You are an IAS aspirant managing your preparation along with the work pressure. You are from a very poor family and this job has brought a ray of hope to you and your parents. You are unmarried though.
The local police is aware of this Naxal problem, which is common in the region, yet they are not taking any action for fear of their own lives and corruption.
What will be your course of action in this circumstance ?
So, the course of action will be :
1. I will formally lodge a complaint with police of such threat and inform higher authorities including DM/SSP.
2. On next encounter with Naxals, I will try to show to them the futility of such actions and make strong pitch for them to join mainstream life.
3. I will buy a good life insurance cover to ensure financial safety for my family.
4. I will enroll in self defence classes like martial arts/krav maga and be prepared to fight them when need arises.
Please review !
Option 5 (not possible) : Pay up and keep working. Paying would lead to funding naxalites.
Option 6 (practical) : Inform the head office and ask for protection. If local police itself can't provide protection, then you would have to consider leaving the area for your own safety. Banking isn't a life-or-death issue requiring you to put your own life on the line.
Moreover what if in my next place of posting, some goon will threaten me for 'hafta' and police won't help
I still feel training oneself will help in fighting :-)
Leaving permanent postings by non-essential civilian staff till naxals are driven out is the only feasible strategy. Chances of kidnapping, murder, extortion, targeted attacks, etc. are less.
This is also not a bad idea for the individual with a poor dependent family. If he pays, then he encourages them too. If he doesn't pay but stays back, he'll leave in a cosy box. Third option is my option 6.
My answer tries to be more practical than heroic. Discretion is the better side of valour.