New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has begun publicly disclosing the asset declarations of its judges on its official website. This decision, made during a Full Court meeting on April 1, 2025, mandates that all judges, including the Chief Justice of India, submit their asset details upon assuming office and after acquiring any substantial assets.
These declarations are now being uploaded to the court’s website as they are received.
As of now, 21 out of the current 33 judges have submitted their asset declarations. Notably, outgoing Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and his successor, Justice B.R. Gavai, have made their asset details public.
Justice Gavai’s disclosures include bank holdings exceeding ₹19.63 lakh, inherited property in Amravati, apartments in Mumbai and Delhi, and agricultural lands in Amravati and Nagpur.
This initiative follows a similar voluntary disclosure policy adopted in 2009. However, the current move marks a shift towards a more systematic and mandatory approach to asset transparency within the judiciary. The Supreme Court has also published details regarding the appointment processes for judges, including the roles of the High Court and Supreme Court Collegiums, as well as inputs from state and central governments.
The decision to make asset declarations public comes in the wake of a recent incident involving the discovery of unaccounted cash at the residence of a Delhi High Court judge, which led to an internal inquiry and the judge’s transfer recommendation.
This move has been welcomed as a step towards greater accountability and public trust in the judiciary.
