As a District Magistrate you receive an order of the Pollution Control Board for removal of tanneries which are discharging pollutants in the river in gross violation of the pollution control norms. You also receive a representation from the tannery owners requesting you not to execute the order as more than two hundred workers are employed in the tanneries who will lose their job and livelihood. Besides, these tanneries have been operational for at least two decades. Which of the following courses of action would you adopt?

2.5 marks for Option (c) 1 mark for Option (b) 0 marks for Option (a) or (b) Rationale/ Reasoning Rationale/ Reasoning (c) As an executive authority your must implement valid orders of statutory bodies, without being swayed by its consequences. Though the order of closure of tanneries is apparently harsh on the workers, it is of greater good for a larger population which otherwise would be affected by the pollution. Besides, as a government authority your duty is to uphold the law and in no way assist or be a mute spectator of its breach. As such, Option (c) is the best course. Further measures can be taken by administration to rehabilitate the displaced labour and ameliorate the hardship suffered. (b) Option (b) shows lack of desire to shoulder responsibility and take action on one’s own. (a) & (d) Option (a) and (d) would be violative of a valid legal order. Principle/ Value Tested Desire to implement and uphold law and not buckle under pressure