NEW DELHI: In a move to ensure greater transparency, all the Supreme Court judges have unanimously decided to make their assets public.
SC Judges Asset Declaration: 30 of 33 Submit Details for Public Transparency
In a full court meeting, the apex court judges decided that they will disclose their assets and the data will be uploaded on the court's website. The decision was taken at a full court meeting held on April 1.
However, placing the declaration of assets on the Supreme Court website will be on a voluntary basis, it was clarified.
Supreme Court Judges to Disclose Assets Online; Voluntary Disclosure Policy Explained
"The full court of the Supreme Court of India had resolved that judges should make a declaration of their assets on assuming office and whenever any acquisition of a substantial nature is made, to the Chief Justice. This also includes declaration(s) by the Chief Justice of India. Placing the declaration of assets on the Supreme Court website will be on a voluntary basis," the top court's website said.
It was informed that as many as 30 judges out of 33 judges have submitted their declarations.
The judiciary suffered a blow with a recent controversy surrounding the judiciary, especially after a huge cash pile was allegedly discovered when a fire broke out at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, then Delhi High Court judge.
Justice Varma, facing in-house inquiry, has now been shifted to the Allahabad High Court. It was also decided to withdraw judicial work from him.
In 2009, the full court of the apex court took the significant decision to make the judges assets public.
