A Groundbreaking Move: Supreme Court Makes Judges' Financial Disclosures Public for the First Time

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): For the first time ever the Supreme Court of India has started uploading the asset declarations of its judges on its official website. This decision stems from a full-court resolution aimed at providing the public with access to the financial disclosures of members of the judiciary.

21 Judges Disclose Assets

So far, 21 of the 33 sitting judges have made their asset information public. The disclosures reveal a range of assets, including properties, investments and jewelry. Justice KV Viswanathan has disclosed investments exceeding ₹120 crore, along with properties in Delhi and Coimbatore. Justice Vikram Nath has reported owning a two-bedroom apartment in Noida, a bungalow in Prayagraj and around 20 bighas of farmland in Kaushambi.

Asset Details of Top Judges

Justice BR Gavai, who is set to take over as Chief Justice of India on May 14, has listed gold and jewelry worth ₹5.25 lakh, while his wife holds ornaments valued at ₹29.70 lakh. Justice Surya Kant, expected to become CJI on November 24, has declared ownership of a residence in Chandigarh, farmland in Panchkula, a plot in Gurugram and fixed deposits totaling ₹4.11 crore.

Outgoing CJI's Asset Disclosure

Outgoing Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, set to retire on May 13, holds a fixed deposit of ₹55.75 lakh and owns a three-bedroom DDA flat in South Delhi. He also possesses a 2,446 sq ft four-bedroom apartment in the Commonwealth Games Village and has investments in a Public Provident Fund and General Provident Fund.

The Supreme Court's initiative aligns with broader efforts to make the judicial appointment process more transparent. The court has also made public the procedures for appointing judges to both the high courts and the apex court, detailing the steps involved, including recommendations, government inputs, and collegium decisions.