As a public servant entrusted with a selection process, your primary duty is to uphold the principles of merit, fairness, and impartiality. Recommendations must be based solely on the objective evaluation of candidates against predefined criteria (educational performance, work experience, track record). External influence, even from a mentor or senior official, must not compromise this principle. Option C describes the ethical course of action where the decision is made based on the merits of all candidates, regardless of who made a recommendation.