North Block, micro manager

Not without reason, the finance ministry has earned itself the dubious distinction of playing the role of financial regulator. For instance, it recently issued guidelines for consortium lending, which is clearly within the Reserve Bank's purview. Now, it appears, North Block has taken bank micro-management to new heights as the chairman of a large Mumbai-based state-owned bank discovered. Calling a deputy general manager for a meeting, he was told the person concerned was not available because he had been summoned to Delhi — without even informing the top management.