That bureaucrats face political pressure has been acknolwedged by none other than president Pranab Mukherjee. Adressing IAS officers at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) at Mussorrie today he said civil servants should be patient and communicate to politicians what cannot be done, news agency PTI reported. 

While he asked the IAS officers not to subject themselves to political pressure or interference, he also said they needed to understand the compulsion of political leaders who are answerable to those who have chosen them.

"I know more often we hear the complaint that many a thing could not be done or implemented due to political interference. I do not hesitate to share the perception, yes it is there," he said. "My advice to senior civil servants is be a little patient, tell him (politician) this cannot be done, why it cannot be done," he added.

Mukherjee's acknowledgment could not have come at a better time when more and more bureaucrats are finding themselves pressurised by their political masters.  The hounding of Durga Shakti Nagpal and Ashok Khemka, two upright officers by thier respective political excecutives are case in point. while Nagpal, a 2010 batch IAS officer has been reinstated, after a brief suspension, Khemka is facing a chargeheet by the Haryana government.