An adage reads, ‘discretion is the best part of valour’. Yes, this was true to a great extent in the early parts of man’s existence, but discretion now means some blatant favoritism. Discretion has lost its real meaning, for it has been so shamelessly used.
Just because rules and laws can’t be made for all possible eventualities, the discretion was given to people in high places. This discretion needs some caution for spare use.
It should be farther used over some task. However, with the passage of time, this discretion has come to be used as tool for furthering personal interest rather than furthering task in hand. In this way, the discretion meant to be an instrument, to see work move smoothly, has become a curse.
The idea of giving discretion was originally to help him utilize, whatever was available in the best of the public interests. However, it is mostly seen as conveniently converted to favoritism. With an eye on future gratification, discretion is used to serve personal advantages.
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Let us see, for example, how it has been misused. At one time, petrol pumps were supposed to be allotted for war widows. This was a very noble idea. It could enable them to become financially self sufficient over the loss of husband.
However, this turned out to be in reality a hoax. These petrol pumps became a source of income not to the war widows but for the sanctioning or allotting authority. The pumps were allotted to people, who could in turn give some advantage to the authority that sanctions those pumps. In this way, the discretion meant to be an advantage to the needy, has accrued advantage to the authority that sanctions the pump.
This is just one example of the misuse of discretion. Human beings are so greedy and selfish. The rosy idea of discretion became more of liability than assets. We need discretion only when we are highly disciplined and retain such flawless character.