Ethical Conduct vs. Unfair Practices in Civil Service

Introduction: As a civil servant committed to ethics, you may face challenges due to the prevalent unethical practices in your environment.

Challenges Observed:

1. Perception of Ethical Conduct: Adhering to ethical standards often creates personal and familial challenges. For instance, IAS officer Shah Faesal resigned in protest against systemic issues, highlighting the difficulties of maintaining integrity. Similarly, Harsh Mander, a former IAS officer, faced personal and professional challenges while championing social justice and ethical governance.
2. Prevalence of Unfair Practices: When unethical behavior is widespread, a small group committed to fairness may face obstacles. For example, K. Annamalai, an IAS officer known for his anti-corruption stance, faced resistance and personal challenges despite his commitment to integrity. His experience underscores the difficulties faced by those maintaining ethical standards in a predominantly corrupt environment.

Conclusion: Maintaining ethical conduct is challenging but essential. Addressing systemic corruption and reinforcing integrity through institutional support and public awareness can help mitigate these challenges.