"The strength of any institution lies not in its structure, but in its spirit."
In a small South Indian town, a local hospital was once renowned for its excellence. Patients traveled from nearby villages to receive treatment there. Over time, however, conditions changed. The head doctor began arriving late and devoted more time to a nearby corporate hospital. Nurses were appointed or transferred not based on their skills but on who they pleased. Equipment broke down and was never repaired. Yet, the building still stands tall, the logo remains, and the motto "Service before Self" is still visible at the entrance.
From the outside, it appears to be a hospital. But inside, it is hollow. Patients have stopped coming. An elderly woman who runs an eatery outside the hospital remarks,
"This place is no longer alive. It is just pretending to be a hospital."
This is how institutions die — not with explosions, but through slow, silent decay.
We are witnessing the decay of institutions across the world, and sadly, we are living through this time. The signs are clear if you pay attention. The rot is not always loud; it often manifests in silence, inaction, and passive resistance disguised as procedure. Two recent examples vividly illustrate this reality:
The Tamil Nadu Governor/s Delayed Consent
In a democracy, when an elected state government passes legislation, the Governor, as a constitutional head, is expected to act in accordance with democratic principles. However, when the Tamil Nadu Governor willfully delays assent to multiple bills for over five years, it signals deeper institutional dysfunction. This isn/t merely a procedural lapse; it is a direct challenge to the notion of cooperative federalism. The situation became so paralyzed that the Supreme Court had to intervene, reminding the Governor/s office that it is not above the democratic will of the people. When institutions require judicial intervention to fulfill their constitutional duties, decay has already set in.
The /Copy-Paste/ Judgment
In another alarming instance, a tribunal issued a 200+ page arbitration judgment riddled with copy-pasted content, much of which was irrelevant to the issue at hand. This wasn’t just embarrassing; it struck a blow to judicial credibility. An international commercial court in Singapore dismissed the judgment outright, citing its irrelevance and lack of original thought. When the judiciary — which should serve as the last line of defense for justice — produces work that is not only lazy but dangerously misleading, what message does that send?
These are not outliers. These are signals, alarm bells we must stop ignoring.
What Really Triggers Institutional Decay?
Decay begins subtly, not with an explosion, but with a quiet compromise. What typically triggers decay includes:
- Loss of Purpose: When the original intent of an institution is hijacked by personal or political agendas, erosion begins.
- No Accountability: Power without consequence is the fastest route to rot. When individuals can fail, mislead, or delay without accountability, standards fall.
- Optics over Outcomes: When institutions prioritize appearances over substance, it indicates decay, as form overtakes function.
- Rewarding Loyalty over Merit: When sycophancy replaces competence, decline becomes systemic.
The Red Flags
Decay becomes perilous when dysfunction becomes normalized. When people begin to say, "That’s how things works here," instead of asking, "Why isn’t this working?", the culture shifts from inquiry to inertia. Whether in a public office, a company, or a courtroom the red flags remain consistent:
- Chronic delays without explanation
- Decisions made without rationale
- Fear of speaking up
- Exit of credible, ethical talent
Lessons for Organizations
Let us not assume that these issues are confined to governmental institutions only. Every organization, corporate or public, must constantly audit its own integrity. The Institutions must ask -
- Are we living our purpose or merely maintaining our positions?
- Are we listening to dissent or punishing it?
- Are we empowering the best talents or appointing those who are merely comfortable?
- Is our reputation genuine or simply managed?
The first stage of institutional collapse is the loss of shame. Once people stop feeling embarrassed by mediocrity, when leaders cease to take responsibility for failures, and when employees stop caring about outcomes — the spirit is lost, even if the structure remains.
Can Decay Be Reversed?
Yes, but only through honest confrontation. Decay can be reversed when individuals within the institution refuse to tolerate rot. When courage supplants convenience, when truthful dialogue is embraced — even if uncomfortable, and when the system becomes self-correcting instead of self-protecting.
In Closing
Institutions don’t collapse overnight. They deteriorate bit by bit, through each ignored red flag, each delayed decision, and every unchallenged incompetence. Let us not wait for a Supreme Court ruling or a scandal to awaken us. Let us strive to build institutions, both public and private, that not only survive scrutiny but welcome it.
Because, at the end of the day, it’s not the building, the emblem, or the hierarchy that keeps an institution alive; it is the character of the people who run it.
Do you see public and private Institutions decaying around you?
What are the possible issues they are going through?
Please share your thoughts.