Obtaining false certificates, which is what Khedkar is accused of doing, including certificates of disability to occupy seats reserved for the differently abled candidates, makes a mockery of reservation, thereby depriving the truly needy, but deserving candidates of a fair chance in life. Such conduct harms the well-being of differently-abled people as it casts doubt on the ingenuity of their case. Such misuse of a policy, harms future affirmative policies for such vulnerable groups. Though few, such cases of misconduct can cause irreparable damage to the cause of the needy and their aspirations.
Cognisance of this fact needs to be taken seriously and the significance of practical ethics in governance must become an integral part of the training programs. It is often heard that ethics is all just ‘good’ in theory but ineffective in practice. This attitude must be shunned. But, the mere listing of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ in public service will not be enough to produce…