QUESTION 4(a)
GS4
10 marks
“In doing a good thing, everything is permitted which is not prohibited expressly or by clear implication.” Examine the statement with suitable examples in the context of a public servant discharging his/her duties.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Examine whether a public servant may do anything not prohibited to achieve good, with examples.
ExamineGo into the details, test each point against evidence, and conclude on what it shows.
Demand-wise check
- 1Meaning: room for initiative where law is silent; innovation for public good≈30 words
- 2Examples: Armstrong Pame's crowd-funded road in Manipur; officers using convergence of schemes creatively≈30 words
- 3Limits: public authority acts only within powers given by law; good intent cannot excuse bias, procedure breaches or harm to rights≈30 words
- 4Checks: reasons recorded, transparency, accountability, proportionality≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
MeaningSupport with examplesLimits (rule of law)Balanced viewConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Agreeing fully and ignoring rule of law limits
- Examples from private life, not public duty
Draw this
- Spectrum: prohibited → silent (discretion) → mandated
Value addition
- CaseSharp v Wakefield (1891): discretion means acting 'according to the rules of reason and justice, not according to private opinion'.House of Lords, 1891
- ExampleIAS officer Armstrong Pame built a 100-km road in Manipur through public contributions (2012).2012
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Vidushi Singh · AIR 13 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
- G Sanjana · AIR 55 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
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