Ethics Theory, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. 3. Rajesh Gupta, a Senior Police Superintendent in Mumbai, receives credible intelligence about a major terrorist attack planned for the upcoming Ganesh festival, which attracts millions of devotees. The intelligence suggests that the attack will target one of the main pandals in a densely populated area. However, the information comes from an undercover informant who has infiltrated a terrorist cell, and revealing this intelligence publicly would compromise the informant’s identity and potentially lead to his execution.
Rajesh faces a critical decision: he can either evacuate the area and cancel the festival, which would save lives but cause massive economic losses, disappoint millions of devotees, and potentially expose his informant; or he can maintain secrecy and deploy covert security measures, which would protect the informant but might not be sufficient to prevent the attack entirely. The Chief Minister, under pressure from religious organizations and business associations, insists that the festival must proceed as planned to avoid communal tensions and economic disruption. The festival has significant religious and cultural importance for the Hindu community, and canceling it could be seen as giving in to terrorist threats.
However, Rajesh knows that if the attack succeeds, he will be held responsible for the loss of innocent lives. Adding to the complexity, Rajesh discovers that some of his junior officers may have been compromised by the terrorist network, making it difficult to trust his own team with sensitive operational details.
Questions
- What are the different courses of action available to Rajesh, and what are the ethical implications of each?
- What course of action balances religious sentiments, public safety, and operational security in his decision-making?
- What ethical frameworks should guide law enforcement officers when dealing with such high-stakes security situations? (250 words, 20 marks)
