Mr Joy is a posted as an intern journalist of a newspaper whose major work revolves arounds local bodies like gram panchayats and zilla panchayats. However, the area where he is posted is notorious for embezzlement and siphoning of funds. There also have been instances where RTI activists and whistle-blowers were brutally murdered for exposing scams.

Topic:  case study.

7. Mr Joy is a posted as an intern journalist of a newspaper whose major work revolves arounds local bodies like gram panchayats and zilla panchayats. However, the area where he is posted is notorious for embezzlement and siphoning of funds. There also have been instances where RTI activists and whistle-blowers were brutally murdered for exposing scams.

Six months into his Job, Mr Joy comes across the document where a community hall has to be constructed for which 10 crore rupees were allocated from the state government. The timeline for the completion of the project was 1 year and it was shown that it was completed. Pictures of the new constructed hall are also present in the document.

Upon investigating, when Mr. Joy visits the hall, to his shock he finds that the plot where the hall is supposed to be is totally empty. On further investigation he finds out that the pictures in the document are from a private hall in the village and not of the hall that was supposed to be constructed.

He further digs deep and find out the Chairman of the Gram Panchayat, The C.E.O of Zilla Panchayat and the Chief Project officer are the ones responsible for this scam. He gathers all evidence and wants to publish a report in the newspaper when his editor-in-chief calls him and asks him to drop any reporting on this matter. Further, he is transferred to the sports section of the newspaper. The editor is worried that newspaper maybe targeted by nefarious elements and safety of Mr Joy is also at threat. (250 words)

1. 1. What are the ethical values involved in the above case?
   2. Who are the stakeholders in this case?
   3. Was the editor-in-chief, right in transferring Mr Joy to sports section?
   4. Which course of action should Mr Joy pursue?

Difficulty level: Moderate

Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Case Study Fridays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context.

Body:

1. Outline all the ethical values involved one by one.
2. Mention all the stakeholders involved.
3. Evalaute the actions of the editor-in-chief, give reasons as to why or why not if his action was right.
4. Chart out a course of action for joy which solves the issue and also safeguards him from any harm.

Conclusion:

Mention way to overcome the dilemmas.