'Judiciary Is Doing A Great Job'

LEGAL experts and senior politicians may have their reservations about the current high-profile activism by the judiciary, particularly the manner in which it has virtually taken over the job of monitoring the CBI probe in the Jain hawala case. But it gets an unequivocal thumbs up from the common man, who is highly supportive of the apex court's drive to weed out corruption in high places. An Outlook-MODE opinion poll, involving 551 respondents in Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Bangalore shows that as many as 89 per cent of them feel that the judiciary is doing a commendable job. And 94 per cent believe that the judiciary should continue in its efforts to cleanse the system.

The poll also indicates that the common perception is that the judiciary had to step in since the Government was not fulfilling its responsibilities. Eighty-seven per cent came out in support of intervention by the judiciary. However, there is also a note of cynicism, with 47 per cent expressing apprehensions that finally nothing may come out of the Jain hawala case.

Another finding is that Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao's strategy of painting every politician black and thereby acquiring a halo of the great cleanser is beginning to succeed, at least in the metros. Forty six per cent of the respondents feel that Rao is likely to emerge as Mr Clean although 57 per cent still hold that the CBI chargesheets against top politicians and bureaucrats will not help the Prime Minister.

The positive response to the cleansing operation of the Prime Minister was the strongest in Madras. As many as 62 per cent of those polled in the metro feel that Rao will finally emerge with a cleaner image. In Delhi, 52 per cent hold the same view, while in Bombay and Calcutta only 39 per cent and 33 per cent respectively feel that the Prime Minister will benefit from the crackdown in the hawala case.

Among the four pillars of democracy—judiciary, executive, legislature and press—respondents say they trust the judiciary the most. The judiciary is seen as the most trustworthy by 39 per cent, and the press by 31 per cent. The legislature emerges as the least trusted, with 11 per cent, and the executive marginally better with 19 per cent. Clearly, the Government and Parliament will have to do some introspection and act quickly to restore their credibility among the people.

It is a great thing the Judiciary is doing

Disagree : 11%
Agree : 89%

The Judiciary had to step in as the government was not fulfilling its responsibilities

Disagree : 13%
Agree : 87%

The Prime Minister will come out with a cleaner image because of all these actions

Delhi : 52%
Bombay : 39%
Clacutta : 33%
Madras : 62%
Bangalore : 44%
Male : 44%
Female : 60%
Can't say :1%
Disagree : 53%
Agree : 46%

The Judiciary should continue the current effort to clean the system

Disagree : 6%
Agree : 94%

Who do you trust the most?

Parliament : 11%
Government :19%
Press : 31%
Judiciary : 39%

The Judiciary is going beyond what it is supposed to do

Disagree : 69%
Agree : 31%