Q7. “Perception of fairness is as important as actual fairness in governance.” Examine how perceptions influence legitimacy. Evaluate the ethical responsibility of public officials in this context. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: TH
Why the question
Growing gap between procedural fairness and perceived fairness in governance is leading to trust deficits, making it a key ethical concern in public administration.Key Demand of the question
The question requires analysing how perceptions shape legitimacy in governance and evaluating the ethical responsibilities of public officials to ensure both actual and perceived fairness.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly link legitimacy in governance with fairness and public trust.Body
- Perception and legitimacy: Show how perceived fairness influences trust, compliance and institutional credibility.
- Ethical responsibility of public officials: Highlight duties like impartiality, transparency and integrity to align perception with fairness.
Conclusion
Emphasise that ethical governance demands fairness to be both practised and visibly upheld.
