Ethical Dilemmas in Administration — Ethical Standards

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act	2018	This amendment introduced significant changes to the PC Act, 1988. It made giving a bribe a direct offence. Crucially, it introduced a provision (Section 17A) that requires prior approval from the competent authority before launching an investigation against a public servant for decisions made in the course of their official duties.	The impact is debated. Proponents argue that Section 17A protects honest officers from malicious prosecution and encourages bold decision-making. Critics, however, contend that it shields the corrupt, creates an additional layer of bureaucracy in launching investigations, and could weaken the fight against corruption. It represents a classic dilemma between protecting the honest and punishing the guilty.
Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill	2015	Though not yet an Act (passed by Lok Sabha, pending in Rajya Sabha), this proposed amendment seeks to restrict the kind of information a whistleblower can disclose. It prohibits the disclosure of information falling under ten categories, largely mirroring the exemptions in Section 8 of the RTI Act, such as information related to national security, sovereignty, and economic interests.	If passed, this would significantly dilute the original Act. Critics argue it would discourage whistleblowing by creating ambiguity and fear of prosecution, as almost any piece of information could be brought under one of the broad exemption categories. It highlights the ethical tension between encouraging internal accountability and preventing the disclosure of sensitive state information.