New Delhi: In a landmark step toward judicial transparency, the Supreme Court of India has, for the first time, published the asset declarations of its sitting judges on its official website. On May 6, 2025, the asset details of 21 out of the 33 serving Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, were uploaded, signaling a bold response to demands for greater accountability. This historic move, coupled with the public disclosure of the judicial appointment process, addresses long-standing concerns about opacity in the Indian judiciary, particularly in the wake of recent controversies.
A Unanimous Resolution for Accountability
The decision to mandate public asset declarations was unanimously adopted during a Full Court meeting on April 1, 2025. Unlike public servants or elected representatives, judges are not legally obligated to disclose their assets publicly. However, this resolution builds on earlier efforts to uphold judicial integrity. In 1997, the Supreme Court adopted the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life, which set ethical standards for judges, requiring them to declare assets, including those of spouses and dependents, to the CJI upon assuming office and whenever significant acquisitions are made.
In 2009, the Supreme Court resolved to publish judges’ assets on its website voluntarily. That same year, the Delhi High Court ruled that such declarations were “information” under Section 2(f) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. In 2019, a Constitution Bench, with Justice Sanjiv Khanna authoring the main judgment, held that disclosing judges’ assets does not infringe on their privacy if it serves the public interest. The 2025 resolution strengthens these principles, making public disclosure mandatory for current and future Supreme Court judges.
Assets of 21 Judges: A Spectrum of Wealth
The asset declarations of the 21 judges reveal a diverse range of financial profiles, from modest to affluent. The disclosures cover real estate, investments, jewelry, vehicles, and liabilities, offering a comprehensive view of the judges’ financial standings, including those of their spouses and joint family members.
- CJI Sanjiv Khanna: Owns a three-bedroom Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flat in South Delhi and a four-bedroom flat with parking at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi. He holds a share in an ancestral property developed by his grandfather before Partition, investments worth over ₹55.75 lakh in fixed deposits and bank accounts, and ₹1.06 crore in a Public Provident Fund (PPF). He has no loans, a Life Insurance Corporation of India policy, and a 2015-model hatchback car.
- Justice B.R. Gavai, the CJI-designate set to assume office on May 14, 2025, has inherited a house in Amravati, Maharashtra, and owns residential flats in Mumbai and New Delhi, along with agricultural lands. His assets include ₹19.63 lakh in bank accounts, ₹6.59 lakh in PPF, and liabilities worth ₹1.3 crore.
- Justice Surya Kant: Declares fixed deposit receipts worth over ₹6 crore and owns residential properties in Chandigarh, Gurugram, and Hisar. Notably, he lists “three valuable watches” but no vehicles.
- Justice Abhay S. Oka, retiring on May 24, 2025, has ₹92.35 lakh in PPF, ₹21.76 lakh in fixed deposits, and a 2022-model Maruti car. He has a car loan of ₹5.1 lakh.
- Justice Vikram Nath, a member of the Collegium, has investments worth ₹1.5 crore and owns a flat in Noida and a bungalow in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. He has no loans, jewelry, or vehicles.
- Justice Bela M. Trivedi: Owns two homes in Ahmedabad and jewelry worth ₹50 lakh. She is constructing a house in Ahmedabad and owns a hatchback car.
- Justice P.S. Narasimha, elevated directly from the Bar, has nine-figure investments and jewelry worth six figures. His income tax statements from 2008-2024 also reach nine figures.
- Justice K.V. Viswanathan, also elevated from the Bar, discloses investments worth ₹120.96 crore and income tax payments of ₹91.47 crore from 2010-2025. He has no loans and owns a few hundred grams of jewelry.
- Justice J.B. Pardiwala, in line to become CJI, has a home loan and “a few gold jewelry.”
The assets of Justices J.K. Maheshwari, Dipankar Datta, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Manoj Misra, Aravind Kumar, P.K. Mishra, S.C. Sharma, P.B. Varale, N. Kotiswar Singh, R. Mahadevan, Joymalya Bagchi, and B.V. Nagarathna have not yet been uploaded. The Supreme Court clarified that “statements of assets of judges already received are being uploaded. Statements of assets of other judges will be uploaded as and when the current statement of assets is received.”
Context of the Transparency Drive
This move comes amid growing scrutiny of judicial opacity, particularly following a controversy involving Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. On May 6, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a statement noting that a three-member inquiry committee had submitted its report on the discovery of half-burnt currency notes at Justice Varma’s official residence. The timing of the asset disclosures, released near midnight on the same day, underscores the judiciary’s intent to counter allegations of secrecy with tangible action.
The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life (1997) provides the ethical foundation for these reforms. It mandates that judges avoid actions eroding public faith, refrain from hearing cases involving family or friends, abstain from commenting on political matters, decline gifts or hospitality except from close relations, avoid trade or business, and not seek financial benefits unless explicitly permitted.
Public Disclosure of Judicial Appointments
In addition to asset declarations, the Supreme Court has made the judicial appointment process for High Courts and the Supreme Court fully transparent. On May 6, 2025, the court uploaded detailed information about the roles of the High Court Collegium, state and central governments, and the Supreme Court Collegium. It also published data on appointments from November 9, 2022, to May 5, 2025, including names, high courts, sources (Bar or service), recommendation and appointment dates, special categories (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Woman), and whether candidates are related to sitting or retired judges.
This unprecedented openness addresses public curiosity about the judiciary’s inner workings, reinforcing trust in the appointment process. The Supreme Court’s statement emphasized that these disclosures aim to enhance “knowledge and awareness of the public.”
A Shift from Voluntary to Mandatory Disclosure
Historically, asset declarations by judges were submitted confidentially to the CJI. The 1997 resolution required judges to declare real estate and investments within a reasonable time of assuming office. The 2009 voluntary disclosure policy was a step forward but lacked enforceability. The 2025 resolution marks a significant departure, mandating public disclosure and extending the requirement to future appointees. High Court judges, while required to submit declarations to their respective Chief Justices, rarely make them public, making the Supreme Court’s initiative a pioneering effort.
Implications for Judicial Accountability
The public disclosure of judges’ assets and the appointment process is a watershed moment for the Indian judiciary. By voluntarily subjecting themselves to scrutiny, Supreme Court judges are setting a precedent for accountability that could influence High Courts and other institutions. The move aligns with the 2019 Constitution Bench ruling, which emphasized that transparency in asset declarations serves the public interest without compromising judicial independence.
Critics who have long accused the judiciary of operating behind a veil of secrecy may find this development a robust counterpoint. The detailed disclosures, ranging from CJI Khanna’s modest hatchback to Justice Viswanathan’s ₹120.96 crore investments, humanize the judiciary while demonstrating its commitment to openness.
What Lies Ahead
The Supreme Court has assured that the remaining judges’ asset declarations will be uploaded as soon as they are received. This ongoing process, combined with the public availability of appointment data, positions the judiciary as a leader in institutional transparency. As India’s highest court continues to navigate complex legal and ethical challenges, these reforms signal a proactive effort to maintain public trust.
The disclosures also highlight the diverse backgrounds of Supreme Court judges, from those with ancestral properties to those building homes for retirement. By making such details public, the judiciary is not only addressing contemporary criticisms but also laying the groundwork for a more accountable future.
FAQs
1.Why did the Supreme Court decide to publish judges’ assets on its website?
The Supreme Court unanimously resolved on April 1, 2025, to make asset declarations public to enhance transparency and judicial accountability. This decision was spurred by growing concerns over opacity, particularly after a controversy involving half-burnt currency notes found at a High Court judge’s residence, and aligns with the 1997 Restatement of Values of Judicial Life and a 2019 Constitution Bench ruling supporting public interest disclosures.
2.Are Supreme Court judges legally required to disclose their assets publicly?
Unlike public servants or elected representatives, Supreme Court judges are not legally obligated to disclose assets publicly. However, the 2025 Full Court resolution made it mandatory for current and future judges to publish their asset details on the Supreme Court website, building on earlier voluntary disclosure policies from 1997 and 2009.
3.What types of assets have been disclosed by the judges?
The disclosures include real estate (e.g., flats, houses, ancestral properties), investments (e.g., fixed deposits, PPF), jewelry, vehicles, and liabilities (e.g., loans). For example, CJI Sanjiv Khanna declared a DDA flat, ₹55.75 lakh in investments, and a hatchback, while Justice K.V. Viswanathan reported ₹120.96 crore in investments.
4.Why haven’t all 33 Supreme Court judges’ assets been published yet?
As of May 6, 2025, only 21 of the 33 serving judges’ asset declarations have been uploaded. The Supreme Court clarified that statements already received are being published, and the remaining will be uploaded as soon as current statements are submitted by the other judges.
5.What other transparency measures has the Supreme Court introduced?
Alongside asset disclosures, the Supreme Court has published the complete judicial appointment process for High Courts and the Supreme Court, including details on the roles of the High Court Collegium, state and central governments, and data on appointments from November 2022 to May 2025, such as names, categories, and familial ties to judges.
