Supreme Court Publishes Asset Declarations of Judges, Detailed Info About Judicial Appointments
The Wire Staff
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has published the asset declarations of its serving judges and detailed information about judicial appointments on its official website – a significant move toward greater transparency.
On Monday (May 5, 2025) evening, the court made public the asset details of 21 of its 33 sitting judges, including all five members of the influential Supreme Court Collegium. The court indicated that asset declarations for the remaining 12 judges would be uploaded upon receipt.
This initiative follows a Full Court decision made on April 1, 2025. According to legal news portal Bar and Bench, the decision came amid recent judicial accountability controversies – particularly after burnt currency notes were reportedly discovered at Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma's residence following a fire in mid-March.
A 2009 Full Court resolution had already required judges to declare their assets to the Chief Justice, though this was voluntary and the details weren't published online. The new April 1 decision now requires these statements to be made public on the court's website.
Along with the asset declarations, the court has published detailed information about the judicial appointment process for both High Courts and the Supreme Court. This documentation outlines the specific roles of High Court Collegiums, state and central governments, and the Supreme Court Collegium.
The court has also uploaded detailed data about High Court judge appointments from November 9, 2022, to May 5, 2025. The records include each candidate's name, background (bar or judicial service), recommendation and appointment dates, reserved category representation (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Woman), and any familial relationships with sitting or retired judges.
This publication precedes Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna's upcoming retirement on May 13.
Recent events have highlighted the emphasis on judicial accountability. In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court had made public (with redactions) a preliminary report from the Delhi High Court Chief Justice regarding the allegations against Justice Varma.
In the latest development, the Supreme Court announced Monday that the three-judge committee investigating the allegations against Justice Varma submitted its inquiry report to CJI Sanjiv Khanna on Sunday (May 4). Justice Varma—who was later transferred to the Allahabad High Court, a move the SC maintained was unrelated to the inquiry—has denied any wrongdoing.
The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
