In a major step to boost transparency in the judiciary, all sitting judges of the Supreme Court have agreed to voluntarily disclose their assets on the court’s official website.
The decision was taken during a full court meeting held on April 1, chaired by the newly appointed Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna. As per sources, all 34 sanctioned judges, including 33 currently serving on the bench, participated in the meeting. The only vacant seat is yet to be filled.
Of these, 30 judges have already submitted their asset declarations to the court administration. These details, though not public yet, are expected to be uploaded soon. However, the declaration remains voluntary and not legally binding—a move that invites both praise and scrutiny from legal experts and civil society.
🔍 The Trigger: Delhi HC Cash Scandal
The development comes in the wake of a controversy involving Justice Yashwant Verma of the Delhi High Court, where a fire incident at his government bungalow at 30 Tughlaq Crescent on the night of March 14 led to the discovery of partially burnt currency notes.
According to police and fire services, Justice Verma’s daughter and mother were present at the time and alerted authorities. The discovery of cash sparked public outrage, prompting the Delhi High Court to relieve Justice Verma of his judicial responsibilities on March 23.
While no official conclusion has been drawn regarding the source or legitimacy of the cash, the incident intensified public demand for greater financial transparency in the judiciary.
A Look Back: Past Efforts Toward Judicial Asset Disclosure
- 1997 Resolution: Then CJI J.S. Verma passed a resolution urging judges to disclose their assets to the Chief Justice, although these were not made public.
- 2009 Judges (Declaration of Assets and Liabilities) Bill: This bill required judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts to declare their assets, but a clause preventing public disclosure led to widespread opposition and the bill was shelved.
- Voluntary Declarations in 2009: Under pressure from RTI activists and civil society, some judges chose to voluntarily publish their asset statements on the Supreme Court website.
⚖️ What This Means for Judicial Reform
This voluntary move may not yet be a legal mandate, but it sends a strong signal: India’s highest court is willing to lead by example in an era where public institutions are under increasing scrutiny.
Legal commentators say this could revive the conversation around institutional integrity, public confidence, and the need for a formal framework for financial disclosures across all levels of the judiciary.
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