Trust in Judiciary

Note: Figures are for those who said they have “A great deal of trust” ; No Response/Don’t know set as missing Source: National Election Studies 1996 and 2009; State of Democracy in South Asia Study 2005 and 2013

The proportion of people who have very high trust in the judiciary has been changing over the years. The current level is equivalent to the level in 1996. There was a sharp decline in 2005 which was followed by a significant rise in 2009. Between 2009 and 2013, there was a decline of 9 percentage points in the level.

Note: Figures are for those who said they have “A great deal of trust” ; No Response/Don’t know set as missing Source: State of Democracy in South Asia Study 2013

There seem to be minor class based differences in high trust in the judiciary. Except the upper class, all other groups have almost equivalent proportion of people who have a great deal of trust in the judiciary.

Note: Figures are for those who said they have “A great deal of trust” ; No Response/Don’t know set as missing Source: State of Democracy in South Asia Study 2013

Disaggregating the level of trust by social group reveals some interesting trends. Close to half of the Muslims said that they had a great deal of trust in the courts. They are closely followed by the upper castes, among whom the proportion is 45 percent. The level of very high trust in the judiciary is lowest among the STs.