QUESTION 4(b)
GS4
10 marks
“Mindless addiction to Form, ignoring the Substance of the matter, results in rendering of injustice. A perceptive civil servant is one who ignores such literalness and carries out true intent” Examine the above statement with suitable illustrations.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Examine with illustrations how rigid focus on procedure can cause injustice and how a perceptive civil servant serves the true intent of rules.
ExamineGo into the details, test each point against evidence, and conclude on what it shows.
Demand-wise check
- 1Form: procedure, documents, literal reading. Substance: purpose and fairness≈30 words
- 2Injustice from form: ration denied for Aadhaar mismatch, pension stuck for a spelling error≈30 words
- 3Perceptive officer: purposive interpretation, use of discretion, flexibility within law≈30 words
- 4Caution: procedure also protects against arbitrariness; discretion must be recorded and accountable≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
MeaningIllustrations of injusticeWhat a perceptive officer doesLimitsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Arguing that rules can simply be ignored
- Missing the illustrations the question asks for
Draw this
- Two paths: literal reading → injustice; purposive reading → justice
Value addition
- ExampleReports of ration denied over failed Aadhaar authentication led to orders that no eligible person be denied for want of Aadhaar.Government advisories / media reports
- Report2nd ARC recommended moving from process-based to outcome-based administration.Second Administrative Reforms Commission
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Vidushi Singh · AIR 13 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 23 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.