Q.4 You are posted as a Customs official in one of renowned port cities of India. Your team has recently intercepted a consignment having over 5000 kilograms of red sandalwood. Red Sandalwood, also known as Red Sanders, is a prohibited item for export and is covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list and hence you detained a few individuals for their alleged involvement in trying to smuggle it to another country. However, you later come to know that these people are working for an influential businessman with close ties to the ruling party of the state. Your seniors in the department have verbally instructed you not to register any compliant as yet. You are fearful that a deal will be struck between the businessman and a few corrupt officers of your department and the detained persons will be freed. You are ready to go ahead and file the complaint but at the same time are also fearful of departmental action against you if you disobey your seniors. (a) What are the various options available to you in the given case? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of these. (b) Also indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options) your course of action and the reasons for the same. (20 Marks)

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2 responses to “Q.4 You are posted as a Customs official in one of renowned port cities of India. Your team has recently intercepted a consignment having over 5000 kilograms of red sandalwood. Red Sandalwood, also known as Red Sanders, is a prohibited item for export and is covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list and hence you detained a few individuals for their alleged involvement in trying to smuggle it to another country. However, you later come to know that these people are working for an influential businessman with close ties to the ruling party of the state. Your seniors in the department have verbally instructed you not to register any compliant as yet. You are fearful that a deal will be struck between the businessman and a few corrupt officers of your department and the detained persons will be freed. You are ready to go ahead and file the complaint but at the same time are also fearful of departmental action against you if you disobey your seniors. (a) What are the various options available to you in the given case? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of these. (b) Also indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options) your course of action and the reasons for the same. (20 Marks)”

1. 

   July 9, 2022

   Pranav Shirke

   razor id 216516833611
   1. 

      July 18, 2022

      Staff @CD

      Pranav

      Introduction is fine, stakeholders are also mentioned.
      Options mentioned by you are good, in first point demerits mention comprising honesty,integrity and other ethical values.
      Other options could be added such as – informing the media- merits- help creating public pressure, gain public trust etc; demerits- sensationalisation of the issue, might backfire on premature recourse to media etc
      Investigation of the issue and following due procedure can also be mentioned as an option, as it is not necessary that higher authority will be cooperative. You can mention this option as the course of action in part b. As it is the primary duty of the official to first do an investigation and ascertain all facts, then communicate the senior about the illegality on the basis of sound evidence. Media can be involved as an ally only as a measure of last resort.
      In long term measures, you can talk about drone-based monitoring of forests, upgrading check points, involving locals for correct information etc
      Keep practicing, your format of the answer is good, just some things are missing here and there. 🙂