No need to know

In normal circumstances, no bureaucrat would appreciate not being in the loop when a decision is taken on an issue under his purview. But these are not normal times in government and many bureaucrats are wary of taking a decision that could be questioned tomorrow. As a result, there are some who are quite happy not to be involved in a controversial decision. In one such instance, the finance ministry recently issued some instructions to a company without informing the joint secretary concerned. Since the move was widely criticised later, the official was more than happy to have stayed out of it.