Rails of Integrity | 31 Aug 2023

Rahul Mehta is a dedicated officer in the Indian Railway Services (IRS). One day Rahul inadvertently learns about a major security vulnerability within the railway zone's operations which, if exploited, could potentially compromise the safety of passengers and freight, leading to disastrous consequences. The information is highly sensitive and needs to be addressed urgently to prevent any potential harm.

Despite the urgency, Rahul hesitates to bring the matter to the attention of his superiors fearing that highlighting the security flaw could reflect poorly on his leadership and damage the reputation of the railway zone.

However, feeling torn between his duty to ensure the safety of passengers and his concerns about personal and organisational repercussions, Rahul decides to share this sensitive information with a close friend in the media who has connections within the railway industry believing that the issue might be brought to light without him being directly held accountable for it.

What do you think are the potential consequences of Rahul's decision to leak sensitive information to the media on both passenger safety and the railway zone's reputation? Also, do you think Rahul should have prioritised passenger safety over his own concerns?