You ate Rajesh, an honest IAS officer posted as the District Magistrate in a prominent district of a State, The State Public Service Commission exam was conducted last Week, It is one of the biggest recruitment drives, with over 7 lakh candidates appearing, many from poor and rural backgrounds. Three days after the exam, a leaked question paper, matching the actual one, started circulating on social media. There is public outrage. Protests erupt outside your office, Several coaching institutes allege that a nexus involving a printing press official, a commission clerk, and a politician’s aide facilitated the leak. The government is under pressure. You are asked to conduct a preliminary inquiry within 48 hours and submit a factual report. Meanwhile, you receive a phone call from a senior political leader, asking you to “go slow” as the accused is “a well- wisher™ and “these things happen.”-The-candidate who topped this exam is also the son ofa senior bureaucrat. Moreover, your nephew has secured 8th rank in the exam in his last attempt, and this news has become viralon social media. There are rumors that the leak: was targeted to help specific’candidates. A strong inquiry may lead to cancellation of the exam, affecting’lakhs Of students. On the other hand, going soft may protect your careers Lee (a) What/are the options available to y (b) What course of action would you'choose toensure that justice is done without causing unnecessary hardship, to: innocent candidates? 2 (c) Are there any safeguards, in the current setup to prevent harassment of innocentofficers like’ Rajesh? What further measures need to be taken? (d) “Even the strongest regulatory mechanisms cannot prevent paper, leaks completely”. Do you agree?: ; : pe Sa

Topper: Prakhya · AIR 265 · 2025 · Page 31