THE SCs cancellation of 54 senior bureaucrats promotions has finally shown the chaos that can result from nepotism and politicization of state institutions. The civil and military bureaucracies are state institutions and those serving in them are servants of the state, not of the government whom they should serve without fear or favour. That is why the principles of security of service and merit-based promotions are integral foundations for an effective and nation-serving bureaucracy. Yet, in Pakistan, over the decades, bureaucrats have become highly politicised, accomplices of the political and military rulers. Each successive government promotes its favourites, and demotes or transfers to hardship posts those not given to currying political favour. Bureaucrats have withstood this assault on their profession by playing along and becoming highly-tuned political animals, often directly involved in political machinations. The babu is now a rubber stamp for his political bosses, not someone who is able to give impartial advice based on experience and knowledge. That is why the babus, the term itself derogatory in nature, have become targets of all that is wrong in this country. With no security of tenure any more - and we have seen OSDs, suspensions and even terminations all for political reasons - they curry favour for out-of-turn postings and promotions. At the end of the day, it is the political and military rulers who must bear the blame. They are responsible for desiring sycophants around them and promoting, out of turn, those prepared to do their bidding with no questions asked. The bureaucrat of today does not see himself/herself as serving the state but a particular government. So far there has been no legal challenge on such a scale to a prime minister indulging in the traditional nepotism with regard to senior bureaucratic postings. Part of the reason for that has been the assumption that postings for the highest cadre - Grade 22 - are the prerogative of the head of government, the Executive. The callousness with which the deserving in term of seniority and merit are overlooked has never been considered by the politicians. Justice has now been served, for the first time in Pakistans bureaucratic history. But the result is chaos within the senior federal bureaucracy because Prime Minister Gilani indulged in the nepotism on such a vast scale - 54 out-of-turn promotions while over 173 officers in line for their promotions suffered. The issue is that even if the PM has the prerogative, he should have sound reasoning for making an officer jump the promotions queue - like extraordinary qualifications, skills and performance. Personal likes and dislikes should not come into play as Pakistan is not anyones personal fiefdom. Let us hope this SC decision will finally be a warning to both babus and their political bosses.