I think it all comes down to what are the stakes involved..We are rarely are late for a very critcal job interview,even if it means starting half an hour earlier than the travel time warrants..but in other situations....20 30 minutes late is perfectly normal.If the consequences are minor...we tend to throw caution to the winds and push our luck..hoping the traffic signal will not be policied. Now it may be very possible that Mukesh Amabani's daughter truly deserved to be Head girl of her school but I think,as a leading light of Indian industry Mr Mukesh Ambani himself should have prevailed upon the school authorities to put the process of selection above board,maybe by making the students themselves elect the head girl..instead of one of his minions taking a decision on a matter like this.