Conflict of interest in the public sector arises when

(a) official duties,
(b) public interest, and
(c)…

Question

Conflict of interest in the public sector arises when

(a) official duties,
(b) public interest, and
(c) personal interest

are taking priority one above the other.

How can this conflict in administration be resolved ? Describe with an example.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Conflict in administration arises when personal interest, official duty or public interest takes undue priority, and it is resolved by ranking public interest first, disclosing and recusing, and applying rules by their purpose. Ashok Khemka's 2012 cancellation of a Gurugram land mutation shows public interest prevailing over pressure.

**Introduction**

A public servant serves three masters at once: the official duty of the post, the public interest the post exists for, and personal interest. Conflict arises when one pushes ahead of where it belongs, and resolution means restoring the right order.

**How the Three Interests Collide**

SKETCH: venn | Interests in Public Office
a: Official duty
b: Public interest
c: Personal interest
overlap: Ethical decision

1. **Personal over official**: An officer scoring a tender in which a relative's firm bids lets kinship override impartial duty, which Rule 4(3) of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 forbids.
2. **Personal over public**: An official who buys land along a highway alignment he knows in advance profits from inside information.
3. **Official over public**: In Simdega, Jharkhand, 11-year-old Santoshi Kumari died in 2017 after her family's ration card was cancelled for not being linked to Aadhaar, showing rigid rules defeating their purpose.

**Resolving the Conflict in Administration**

1. **Order of priority**: Public interest first, official duty as its instrument, personal interest last, as the Nolan principle of Selflessness requires.
2. **Disclose and recuse**: A personal stake is declared in writing and the file moves to another officer.
3. **Spirit over letter**: Where a rule produces a cruel result, the officer applies its purpose, records reasons and seeks a relaxation.
4. **Example**: In 2012, Haryana IAS officer Ashok Khemka cancelled the mutation of a Gurugram land deal involving Robert Vadra and DLF despite pressure, placing public interest above career comfort.

**Conclusion**

Conflict among duty, public interest and self is permanent, but the citizen must always come first. Institutionalised disclosure, recusal and reasoned discretion turn this ranking from personal heroism into routine **probity**.

Conflict of interest in the public sector arises when (a) official duties, (b) public interest, and (c) personal interest are taking priority one above the other. How can this conflict in administration be resolved ? Describe with an example.

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