Q. You are heading a district administration in a particular department. Your senior officer calls you from the State Headquarters and tells you that a plot in Rampur village is to have a building constructed on it for a school. A visit is scheduled during which he will visit the site along with the chief engineer and the senior architect. He wants you to check out all the papers relating to it and ensure that the visit is properly arranged. You examine the file which relates to the period before you joined the department. The land was acquired for the local panchayat at a nominal cost and the papers showed that clearance certificates are available for the two of the three authorities who have to certify the site’s suitability. There is no certification by the architect available on file. You decide to visit Rampur to ensure that all is in the order as stated on file. When you visit Rampur, you find that the plot under reference is a part of Thakurgarh fort and that the walls, ramparts, etc., are running across it. The fort is well away from the main village, therefore a school here will be a serious inconvenience for the children. However, the area near the village has potential to expand into a larger residential area. The development charges on the existing plot, at the fort, will be very high and the question of heritage site has not been addressed. Moreover, the Sarpanch, at the time of acquisition of the land, was a relative of your predecessor. The whole transaction appears to have been done with some vested interest. (a) List the likely vested interest of the concerned parties. (b) Some of the options for action available to you are listed below. Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the options: (i) You can await the visit of the superior officer and let him make a decision. (ii) You can seek his advice in writing or on the phone. (iii) You can consult your predecessor/ colleagues, etc, and then decide what to do. (iv) You can find out if any alternate plot can be got in exchange and then send a comprehensive written report. Can you suggest any other option with proper justifications?

Answer:

Approach:

Introduction

  • Contextual Introduction

Body

  • Mention the Options for Action.
  • Critically analyze each of its options.

Conclusion

  • Prospective way forward

Introduction:

The case involves the discovery of irregularities in the acquisition of a plot for a school, which is part of a heritage fort.

stakeholder

Body:

Options for Action:

(i) Await the visit of the superior officer:

Pros:

  • Allows the superior officer to have firsthand knowledge and make a decision based on the current situation.
  • Relieves the responsibility of making a decision from your shoulders.

Cons:

  • May overlook the issues related to the fort and the inconvenience caused to the children.
  • Potential high development charges and impact on the heritage site might not be adequately addressed.

(ii) Seek advice from the superior officer:

Pros:

  • Enables clarification of the situation and provides guidance from a higher authority.
  • Helps in aligning actions with the decisions and directives of the superior officer.

Cons:

  • May not fully address the concerns related to the fort, inconvenience to the children, and potential high development charges.
  • Lack of direct involvement and assessment by the superior officer may result in incomplete understanding of the situation.

(iii) Consult your predecessor/colleagues:

Pros:

  • Provides insights into the history of the transaction and any possible vested interests.
  • May offer valuable information and perspectives that could influence decision-making.

 Cons:

  • Opinions may be biased or influenced by personal relationships or interests.
  • Might not fully address the fundamental issues and concerns related to the fort, inconvenience to the children, and potential high development charges.

(iv) Find an alternate plot and send a comprehensive report:

Pros:

  • Consider the concerns related to the fort, inconvenience to the children, and potential high development charges.
  • Allows for a thorough assessment and offers a solution that takes into account the best interests of the community and the preservation of the heritage site.

Cons:

  • Finding a suitable alternate plot may be challenging and time-consuming.
  • The process of acquiring an alternate plot may involve additional complexities and delays.

Additional Option:

(v) Conduct an independent investigation:

Pros:

  • Provides an unbiased and objective assessment of the entire situation.
  • Uncovers any hidden agendas, irregularities, or vested interests.
  • Ensures transparency, integrity, and fairness in the decision-making process.
  • Offers a comprehensive understanding of the issues, including the fort, inconvenience to the children, and potential high development charges.

Cons:

  • Requires additional resources and time to engage an independent expert.
  • The investigation findings may introduce new complexities and challenges.
  • Implementation of the investigation recommendations may face resistance or opposition.

Overall, the recommended option would be to conduct an independent investigation (Option v).

Conclusion:

This approach ensures a thorough examination of the situation, promotes transparency and integrity, and provides a fair basis for decision-making. It addresses the concerns related to the fort, inconvenience to the children, potential high development charges, and potential vested interests.

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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