Vijay is the Deputy Commissioner of a remote district of Himachal Pradesh. For the last two years, he has been in this region. In the month of August, heavy rains lashed the complete state followed by cloudbursts in the upper reaches of the said district. The damage was very heavy in the complete state, especially in the affected district. The complete road network and telecommunication were disrupted and the buildings were damaged extensively. People's houses have been destroyed and they were forced to stay in open. More than 200 people have been killed and about 5000 were badly injured. The Civil Administration under Vijay got activated and started conducting rescue and relief operations. Temporary shelter camps and hospitals were established to provide shelter and medical facilities to the homeless and injured people. Helicopter services were pressed in for evacuating sick and old people from remote areas. Vijay got a message from his hometown in Kerala that his mother was seriously sick. After two days, Vijay received the unfortunate message that his mother has expired. Vijay has no close relative except one elder sister who is a US citizen and has been staying there for the last several years. In the meantime, the situation in the affected district deteriorated further due to resumption of heavy rains after a gap of five days. At the same time, continuous messages were coming on his mobile from his hometown to reach at the earliest for performing the last rites of his mother.

(a) What are the options available with Vijay?
(b) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Vijay?
(c) Critically evaluate and examine each of these options identified by Vijay.
(d) Which of the options, do you think, would be most appropriate for Vijay to adopt and why?

Ethics

Ethics: Case Study

2025

20 Marks

The case presents a profound conflict between personal duty and public responsibility during a humanitarian crisis. Vijay faces the heart-wrenching choice between attending his mother's last rites and leading disaster relief operations affecting thousands of lives in his district.

Stakeholders Involved

Victims of the disaster (injured, homeless, vulnerable groups)
Civil administration team working under Vijay
Vijay himself (as a son and as a civil servant)
Vijay’s family in Kerala (mother’s community and extended relatives)
Elder sister living abroad
State and central government depending on him for disaster management

(a) Options available with Vijay

Leave immediately for Kerala to perform his mother’s last rites.
- Ethical view: This respects his duty as a son and gives him peace of mind, but leaving in the middle of a crisis would look like abandoning his official duty and people may lose trust.
Remain in the disaster-affected district and continue leading rescue and relief operations.
- Ethical view: This shows putting public duty first and saving many lives, but he may feel personal guilt and face criticism from relatives.
Delegate responsibility temporarily to a senior officer, travel to Kerala, and stay in touch through digital means.
- Ethical view: This balances care for family and public service, but in such a big disaster delegation may weaken the administration and reduce accountability.
Perform symbolic rituals locally, postpone travel, and later go to Kerala once the situation stabilises.
- Ethical view: This tries to respect both family duty and public responsibility, though it may not fully satisfy cultural expectations of last rites.

(b) Ethical dilemmas faced by Vijay

Ethical Dilemma	Explanation
Personal duty vs. Professional duty	Conflict between being present for his mother’s last rites and fulfilling his duty as District Commissioner during a disaster.
Utilitarian dilemma	Staying could save thousands, while leaving honours family duty. Balancing greatest good for the greatest number versus individual obligation.
Emotional vs. Rational choice	Emotion pulls him towards grief and rituals, while rational thinking directs him to manage relief operations and uphold constitutional duty.
Conscience vs. Public perception	His conscience may push him to perform last rites, but society expects a leader to put citizens first.
Long-term reputation vs. Immediate comfort	Leaving may give personal relief but harm reputation and public trust; staying builds trust and sets an example of sacrifice.

(c) Evaluation of Options

Option	Merits	Demerits
Leaving immediately	Upholds filial and religious duty; gives him emotional relief; maintains family honour and cultural tradition.	Abandoning people in crisis, creating an administrative vacuum, possible loss of many lives; weakens public trust in governance.
Staying back fully	Upholds constitutional duty and rule of law; ensures effective disaster response and saves maximum lives; builds reputation for integrity and sacrifice.	Causes deep personal grief; criticism from relatives for not performing rites; may lead to feelings of guilt.
Delegating and travelling briefly	Attempts to balance personal and professional responsibilities; shows sensitivity to family while retaining some control; sets example of empathy.	In a disaster of this scale, delegation may reduce efficiency; communication networks disrupted; accountability diluted.
Symbolic rituals locally, postponing travel	Provides some emotional closure while ensuring his presence in the district; honours both duties in a limited way; reflects adaptability and prudence.	May not fully satisfy cultural and religious expectations of last rites; could invite social criticism from relatives and community.

(d) Most appropriate option

The most ethical and practical course is to prioritise his role as Deputy Commissioner in managing the crisis while finding limited symbolic ways to honour his mother.
Thousands of lives depend on his leadership, so remaining in the district demonstrates responsibility, probity and justice. Later, when the situation stabilises, he can travel to Kerala to perform the full rites.
This approach balances personal grief with public duty.
It also aligns with Kant’s duty ethics (duty for duty’s sake) and utilitarian principles (greatest good for greatest number).
It sets an example of resilience and empathy in public service.

Answer Length

Model answers may exceed the word limit for better clarity and depth. Use them as a guide, but always frame your final answer within the exam’s prescribed limit.

In just 60 sec