Causes of stress in the Minister Civil Servant relationship:

1. In practice however,commitment has assumed the perverted form of politicisation and sycophancy. Commitment to social objectives is one thing and dancing to the tune of a political party is another.

2. Very often it is seen that bureaucracy simply acts according to the dictates of the political executive without any independent examination of issues. This trend can be attributed to the ever growing political interference in the affairs of administration. Political interference and impartial administration cannot co-exist.

3. While the administrators do not perceive their role in policy-making as subservient to the political leaders because of their knowledge and expertise, yet they have to conform to the prerequisites of representative politics. The political leaders claim to be the true representatives of the people and know what is good for them and because of their superior position succeed in dictating the terms to the bureaucrats.

4. The bureaucrats who are not obliging enough soon find themselves in trouble.The political masters have many means of coercion - both overt and covert.Political interference in all matters including those where the statutory power is vested in the civil servants is a constant phenomenon.

5. There are numerous instances of use of transfer, promotion, supersession and compulsory retirement from service by elected politicians as tools to silence the voice of dissent and expression of difference of opinion.