(Sample Material) UPSC IAS Mains GS Online Coaching : Paper 4 - "Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration (Part-2)"

Sample Material of Our IAS Mains GS Online Coaching Programme

Subject: General Studies (Paper 4 - Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)

Topic: Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration (Part-2)

Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration (Part-2)

Values and Ethics in Administration

Values and ethics are central to any organization. Both are extremely broad terms, and we need to focus in on the aspects most relevant for strategic leaders and decision makers.

Some simplified basic concepts

• value an issue or goal which is considered to be important
• ethics the principles for evaluating the lightness ol deeds
• morals commitment to certain values and principles
• professional ethics the own values and principles of a profession
• civil service ethics the values and principles of civil servants & the authorities

• Basic Honesty and Conformity to Law.

“The public servant is morally bound, just as arc other persons, to tell the truth, to keep promises, to respect the person and the property of others, and to abide by the requirements of the law”. In many ways, this level only describes the basic adherence to moral codes that is expected of all members of a group or society. There are some basics of behavior that are expected of all if a society is to function for the collective good. For public officials, there is an additional reason why it is important to adhere to these basic moral codes and laws: they have more power than the average member of the society, and hence more opportunity for violation of those codes or laws. There also is the negative example that misconduct by public officials provides.

• Conflict of Interest

This relates to public officials, because it deals with the conflict between advancing the public interest, which a public official is charged to do, and advancing one’s self-interest. The duty here is to ensure that the public interest comes first, and that one does not advance his own personal interest at the expense of the public. Willhern uses embezzlement of public funds, bribery, and contract kickbacks as examples of pursuing personal interests at the expense of those of the public. The requirements for public officials to divest themselves of investments that might be influenced by the performance of their duties (or put them in trust) and to recuse themselves in situations where they have a personal interest are designed to help public officials avoid conflicts of interest. Ultimately, it still comes down to the individual making an ethical decision.

Avoidance of conflict of interest is often difficult because it is often hard to separate personal and public interests, and because individuals as private citizens are encouraged to pursue private interests through any legal means. One of the areas where there is the greatest potential for conflicts of interest is where public officials deal with private organizations which are pursuing their private interests, and where any decision by a public official on allocation of resources will favor some private interest. The fields of government contracting and acquisition are two areas where the possibility of conflicts of interest is high.

• Service Orientation and Procedural Fairness

This level relates closely to the last, and deals with the responsibility of public officials to ensure their actions serve the public, and that the power they wield is used only for that purpose. It is easy to abuse the power that comes with public office. Procedural safeguards are designed to prevent that abuse. The moral obligation of public servants is to follow established procedures, and not to use their power to circumvent those procedures for their own convenience or benefit. Power must be used fairly and lor the benefit of the public. One can again think of examples of public officials who have violated this moral charge by using their influence and power for their own benefit or for the benefit of special interest groups, or who have circumvented established procedures for their own benefit or convenience. One frequent example is the use of government vehicles or aircraft far unofficial business.

These first three levels of public morality share one important characteristic: they all relate to the behavior or conduct of public officials. These three levels are the areas thai get most of the attention in discussions of ethics, this is where public officials are most likely to get in trouble. However, there are three additional levels of public morality equally important. These deal with the content of what public officials do, “the moral choices involved in deciding what to do, in pursuing the purposes of the state and the society” (Willbern).

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