Rajapuram is a border district. Jhara and Biru, its two major communities are in continual conflict with each other. The social fabric is fractured and demands mending.
Ethnic tensions between the two communities have erupted into violence resulting in a large number of deaths. The stated causes are conflicting land claims, uneven resource allocation and inadequate political representation in government bodies. Separate relief camps had to be created for the two communities. The situation is volatile and appears to be getting out of control.
Rajan has been appointed the District Magistrate (DM) of Rajapuram and tasked to quickly get the situation under control. His immediate tasks include restoring administrative authority, reopening the highway and initiating peace talks. On taking over his appointment, Rajan realized that the inter-community rivalry had even seeped into the local administration and police. With functional neutrality being the immediate casualty, it had made both communities distrustful of the government. The neighbouring country could utilize the opportunity to spur insurgent activity and further aggravate the situation. Rajan favoured a controlled approach starting with opening the highway to restore food and medical supplies. He toyed with the idea of requisitioning CRPF units to help restore administrative control.
(a) Discuss the ethical issues that need to be addressed in this case.
(b) What are the options open to Rajan? Which option would ensure protection of his non-partisan image without compromising ethics?

Answer outline

Introduction

Ethnic conflict tests the State's impartiality more than its strength. When local institutions are seen as taking sides, restoring trust becomes as important as restoring order.

(a) Ethical issues

• Right to life and humanitarian duty: deaths, displacement and the blocked highway threaten food and medical supply to both communities.
• Impartiality and neutrality of civil servants: partisan local officials and police erode the legitimacy of the State.
• Justice and fairness: grievances on land, resources and representation must be addressed without rewarding violence.
• Trust deficit: both groups distrust the government; any step can be read as favouring one side.
• Use of force: restoring order with central forces must be lawful, proportionate and accountable.
• National security versus civil liberties: the risk of cross border insurgency must not become a pretext for blanket repression.

(b) Options before Rajan

• Rely on the existing local machinery: quick but compromised by partisanship; perpetuates distrust.
• Heavy security response only: CRPF deployment and curfews may stop violence but, without political and social steps, can appear as occupation and harden positions.
• Negotiate first, enforce later: dialogue without security may fail when violence is ongoing.
• Phased, impartial approach combining security, humanitarian relief, institutional cleansing and dialogue.

Recommended option and justification

• Immediately open the highway with neutral central forces escorting supply convoys to camps of both communities, and announce this publicly.
• Requisition CRPF through the State government with clear rules of engagement, joint control rooms and video records; place mixed or neutral officers at checkpoints.
• Shift or attach officials and police accused of bias; set up a transparent system to register complaints of excesses.
• Ensure equal relief, health care and rehabilitation in both sets of camps; publish data on aid distributed.
• Start peace committees with respected elders, women and civil society from both sides; set up a time bound process on land records and resource sharing; seek higher level political engagement on representation.
• Justification: it protects life first, treats both communities equally, uses force only as a means to civil authority, and lets results demonstrate Rajan's neutrality.

Conclusion

A District Magistrate's non-partisan image is earned through visible fairness in every decision. By combining firm, lawful security with equal relief and genuine dialogue, Rajan can restore order and begin mending the social fabric.