The tendendy of the bureacracy to lord over decision making is not new because it is said Indira  Gandhi depended on her own set of advisors than on her cabinet collegues and created a monstrous organisation called PMO which was vigilantly overlooking very minister and his actions. But under Dr. Singh himself a retired bureacrat, it has got in to monstrous proportions with every Secretary locking horns with his Minister. Ashok Chawla committee recommended that all natural resources must be auctioned and price discovered. when pointed out that this could increase the cost of goods and services, he had a marvellous idea.,Provide for subsidies.Which is better- forgoing a one time revenue or providing for a stream of continious subsidies year after year? Bureacrats believe that the second option is better which is sheer nonsense. 

For too long Bureacrats have been assigned roles they are not properly trained for. They have sat on acquistions of fleet, aircraft, ammunition or gun for the armed forces even though the Services Chief wanted them. They have presided over PSUs and are responsible for the huge mess most of them or in. There are exceptions though like Krishnamurthi of BHEL and Maruti Udyog. There has been a constant heat burn when IAS officers are chosen to head PSU and RBI. RBI handles the nations economy and as such it requires grooming of prospective Governors form within. If from outside, he/she should have adequate domain knowledge. Subba Rao is a bureaucrat and he though he could lord over RBI as he could when he was Finance Secretary. His parting speech was full of arrogance and challenge to political leadership.