In a landmark move towards enhancing transparency and reinforcing public trust, the Supreme Court of India has, for the first time, made public the asset declarations of its judges. This significant step, initiated in May 2025, marks a departure from previous practices where such disclosures were internal and not accessible to the public.
Background: The Push for Transparency
The decision to publicly disclose assets was catalyzed by a controversy involving Justice Yashwant Varma, a former judge of the Delhi High Court. In March 2025, a fire at his residence allegedly revealed charred currency notes, raising serious concerns over judicial integrity. Although the Supreme Court later clarified that his transfer to the Allahabad High Court was not related to the incident, the episode intensified calls for greater transparency within the judiciary.
The April 1 Resolution: A Collective Commitment
Responding to these concerns, the Supreme Court convened a full court meeting on April 1, 2025. In this meeting, all 33 sitting judges unanimously agreed to publicly disclose their assets by publishing the details on the court’s official website. This resolution marked a significant shift from the existing practice, where asset declarations remained a matter of judges’ discretion.
Implementation: Asset Disclosures Made Public
Following the resolution, the Supreme Court began uploading the asset declarations of its judges on its official website. As of early May 2025, 21 out of the 33 sitting judges had their asset details publicly available. These disclosures include information on real estate, movable property, gold, shares, and investments held by the judges, their spouses, and joint family members. (India Today)
Notable Disclosures
- Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna: Reported ownership of two properties, one in Commonwealth Village and another in Gurugram, along with investments exceeding ₹3.38 crore. He also listed a 2015 Maruti Swift among his assets.(The Week)
- Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai: Disclosed six properties, two of which were inherited, with total investments and cash holdings amounting to over ₹1.15 crore.(The Week)
- Justice K.V. Viswanathan: Stands out as the wealthiest among the judges, declaring investments worth over ₹120 crore, in addition to four properties, and revealed he has paid more than ₹91 crore in taxes over the past 15 years.(The Week)
- Justice Abhay S. Oka: Disclosed assets including ₹92.35 lakh in a Public Provident Fund, ₹21.76 lakh in fixed deposits, and ownership of a 2022 Maruti Baleno. He also declared a car loan of ₹5.1 lakh. His immovable assets comprise two residential flats in Maharashtra and agricultural land in Thane.(The Week)
- Justice Vikram Nath: Declared ownership of a 2-BHK apartment in Noida, a bungalow in Allahabad, and inherited agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh. He has investments totaling ₹1.5 crore but no movable assets or loans in his name. However, his family holds 1 kg of gold, 1,500 grams of silver, and a 2016 Volkswagen Polo registered in their names. (The Week)
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
This move by the Supreme Court sets a significant precedent for transparency within the Indian judiciary. It aligns with global best practices and responds to longstanding demands for greater accountability from civil society and legal reform advocates.
The public disclosure of assets is expected to enhance public confidence in the judiciary and may prompt similar transparency measures in other branches of government. It also opens the door for discussions on institutionalizing such practices through legislation or formal guidelines.
As the judiciary continues to evolve and respond to public expectations, this development marks a pivotal step towards a more transparent and accountable legal system in India.
For detailed asset declarations of the Supreme Court judges, you can visit the official Supreme Court of India website.
Sources:
- https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2025/05/06/landmark-transparency-push-21-supreme-court-judges-voluntarily-disclosed-assets.html?utm_
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/chief-justice-supreme-judges-to-make-assets-declaration-public-amid-cash-row-2703353-2025-04-03?utm_
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-judges-resolve-to-publicly-declare-assets-101743664755572.html?utm_
- https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-publishes-declaration-of-judges-assets-on-website-291341?utm_
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