Q7. Raman and Saritha, a couple from a backward district in India, faced severe financial difficulties. Raman worked as a lorry driver, earning only a subsistence-level income, while Saritha managed their home and cared for their two-year-old daughter. Raman’s mother, deeply entrenched in patriarchal beliefs, pressured the couple to have a male child, claiming it would bring prosperity to the family. Succumbing to familial pressure, Saritha became pregnant again, but the baby turned out to be another girl. Struggling to meet their existing expenses and unable to afford raising another child, Raman and Saritha made the difficult decision to give up the newborn. Raman contacted a local mediator who facilitated the process. Through a forged “adoption deed” prepared at a local notary, the baby girl was handed over to another family from Andhra Pradesh. The matter came to light when a local Anganwadi worker and an ASHA worker noticed the absence of the newborn during a routine visit and reported it to the District Child Protection Unit. During the investigation, it was revealed that the mediator had faked certificates to facilitate the transfer. While the couple admitted to the adoption, they denied any financial transactions and claimed ignorance of the legal process for adoption. Now, as the District Commissioner, you must decide how to proceed. Raman and Saritha have approached you, explaining their dire circumstances and seeking forgiveness. You face the ethical and legal dilemma of addressing their actions, ensuring child welfare, and holding accountable the mediator who exploited the family’s vulnerabilities. (20 M)
- Identify the ethical issues involved in the case.
- What will be your course of action in the given situation?
- Is it ethical to hold the couple solely accountable for the illegal adoption, given their financial struggles and lack of awareness of legal procedures?
Difficulty Level: Medium
Why the question
The case highlights ethical dilemmas involving child rights, poverty, gender bias, legal accountability and compassionate governance in public administration.
Key Demand of the question
The question requires identifying the ethical issues involved, outlining an ethical and legally sound course of action as District Commissioner, and evaluating whether sole accountability should be imposed on the couple despite their vulnerable circumstances.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly highlight the conflict between child welfare, legal compliance and compassion towards vulnerable families facing socio-economic distress.
Body
- Ethical issues involved: Discuss the key value conflicts, stakeholder interests and ethical concerns arising from the case.
- Course of action: Explain a balanced approach prioritising child welfare, legal accountability, rehabilitation and systemic correction.
- Accountability of the couple: Evaluate the extent of responsibility of the parents while considering the role of vulnerability, ignorance, exploitation and other stakeholders.
Conclusion
Conclude by emphasising that ethical governance requires combining justice with empathy, ensuring protection of child rights while addressing the structural causes of such incidents.
