Q.4 You are a young officer posted as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in a district. You have received information that at a party some people were harassed by your subordinate police officer. On further inquiry, you came to know that two complaints have been filed – one by the police and the other by people who organised the party. According to the police, people had gathered without permission and were not following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and social distancing norms. But on the other hand, the complaint filed by the party organisers says that police entered the private venue due to loud noise and harassed everyone at the party including women guests. According to them, your subordinate police officer even tore apart the document, which granted permission to organise the party. A video of this incident, showing your subordinate officer tearing off a document, is being widely circulated on social media platforms. Due to this, social activists want you to take strict action against your subordinate police officer. (a) Identify the ethical issues in the case. (b) What are the factors that can influence decision by competent authorities in such instances? Do you think mobilising public opinion through social media is a fair way to influence the decision in such cases? (c) As the SP, what will be your course of action in this situation? (20 Marks)

Comments

5 responses to “Q.4 You are a young officer posted as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in a district. You have received information that at a party some people were harassed by your subordinate police officer. On further inquiry, you came to know that two complaints have been filed – one by the police and the other by people who organised the party. According to the police, people had gathered without permission and were not following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and social distancing norms. But on the other hand, the complaint filed by the party organisers says that police entered the private venue due to loud noise and harassed everyone at the party including women guests. According to them, your subordinate police officer even tore apart the document, which granted permission to organise the party. A video of this incident, showing your subordinate officer tearing off a document, is being widely circulated on social media platforms. Due to this, social activists want you to take strict action against your subordinate police officer. (a) Identify the ethical issues in the case. (b) What are the factors that can influence decision by competent authorities in such instances? Do you think mobilising public opinion through social media is a fair way to influence the decision in such cases? (c) As the SP, what will be your course of action in this situation? (20 Marks)”

1. 

   February 4, 2022

   Karun Kumar Takhele

   Ir1zuLIKkQ1gwr

   Log in to Reply
   1. 

      February 9, 2022

      Staff @CD

      Karun

      See the question is given in parts, answer it part by part.
      First, give a general introduction about Covid 19 and the acts like DM act, Epidemic Act that were used to enforce law and order. You can also mention that reports of harassment by police have also surfaced.
      Then you can identify the stakeholders which you have done.
      Next, answer part a, issues involved are fine but also mention broader ethical issues in the case such as ensuring fairness and impartiality, sensitivity, dignity of the individuals involved, public trust in police.

      You have almost skipped part b of the answer. In factors that can influence the decision mention public pressure, political interference, media/social media pressure, scope of partiality in investigation by police.
      Next, take a balanced view on use of social media as a tool for mobilising opinion. On one hand it helps in ensuring transparency, accountability and speedier justice but on the other hand it also creates nuisance in the form of fake videos and creating a negative opinion about police.

      Part c has been written well, you can organise it better by going stepwise on your course of action- issuing statement, fair investigation, action against guilty, training of police(EI component), awareness of public.
      Conclusion is good.
      Keep practicing. 🙂
2. 

   February 7, 2022

   Siddharth Singh

   Order ID: IqNPqsKSFI4p44
   Staff@CD

   Log in to Reply
   1. 

      February 7, 2022

      Siddharth Singh

      IqNPqsKSFI4p44
   2. 

      February 9, 2022

      Staff @CD

      Siddharth

      First, give a general introduction about Covid 19 and the acts like DM act, Epidemic Act that were used to enforce law and order. You can also mention that reports of harassment by police have also surfaced.
      Then you can identify the
      stakeholders in the case.

      Part a is fine, some other issues that can be mentioned are sensitivity in handling the case, dignity of the individuals involved, public trust in police.

      Factors that can influence are also fine, you can explain each one in 1 line, social media pressure should be mentioned. Next, take a balanced view on use of social media as a tool for mobilising opinion. On one hand it helps in ensuring transparency, accountability and speedier justice but on the other hand it also creates nuisance in the form of fake videos and creating a negative opinion about police.

      In part c, you can’t mention things like keeping media out of the matter, that will be a big question mark on transparency and accountability plus media is 4th pillar of democracy.
      You can organise the answer by going stepwise on your course of action- issuing public statement, fair investigation, action against guilty, training of police(EI component), awareness of public.
      Your answer seems incomplete. Give a proper conclusion.
      Keep practicing. 🙂