← All questionsGS4 · 2022 · Case Studies — Individual Morality ·Stone Mining Mafia and Journalist Ashok (Case)
QUESTION 9
GS4
20 marks

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 mafia 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.1) What are the options available with Ashok to cope up with the situation?2) Critically evaluate/examine each of the options identified by Ashok.3) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ashok?4) Which of the options, do you think, would be the most appropriate for Ashok to adopt and why?5) 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?

WRITE IN
14 min
250 words

What the examiner wants

After an honest SP is run over by a mining truck, journalist Ashok exposes a nexus of mafia, officials and a local MLA close to the CM; his CMD offers promotion and adjustment of his son's medical loan if he drops the story. Answer all five parts.

Case studyName the stakeholders and the issues, weigh the options, and say what you would do and why.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Options: hand over the report and drop it; publish anyway in his channel; give the material to police/court/another outlet or the Press Council; resign and publish independently≈40 words
  2. 2Evaluation of each: truth and public interest, journalistic ethics, conflict of interest of the channel, his family's needs, personal safety≈40 words
  3. 3Dilemmas: integrity vs son's health and loan, loyalty to employer vs duty to public, truth vs safety≈40 words
  4. 4Most appropriate: refuse the inducement, take the verified evidence to investigating agencies and courts (or a credible outlet), seek protection; this honours the SP's sacrifice≈40 words
  5. 5Training for police in mining districts: integrity and anti-corruption, investigation and forensics, use of drones and satellite data for mining surveillance, legal knowledge (MMDR Act), coordination with forest and mining departments, officer safety protocols≈40 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

FactsOptionsEvaluationDilemmasChoicePolice trainingConclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Forgetting part 5 on police training
  • Ignoring the conflict of interest of the channel owner

Draw this

  • Option table plus a box listing training modules

Value addition

  • ExampleDSP Surender Singh was killed by a mining dumper while checking illegal mining in Nuh, Haryana, in July 2022.Haryana Police / news records
  • CodePress Council of India's Norms of Journalistic Conduct require journalists to resist inducements and conflicts of interest.Press Council of India

Mapped topper copies

Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.

Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.