SC Judges Disclose Financial Assets in Transparency Push

On 6th May 2025, 21 sitting Supreme Court(SC) judges, including Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, voluntarily disclosed their financial assets and liabilities on the court’s website—marking a significant move towards judicial transparency.

Key Points

Historic Step toward Transparency: Asset details of 21 of 33 sitting judges, including both earned and inherited wealth, have been published online, following a Full Court resolution passed on April 1, 2025.
Linked to Controversy Response: The disclosure came hours after a committee report on half-burnt currency found at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence was submitted—addressing public concern over opacity in the judiciary.
Range of Assets Disclosed: Judges reported home and car loans, jewellery, ancestral properties, high-value investments, income tax records, and under-construction homes.
Voluntary but Significant: Asset disclosure is not mandatory for judges but is encouraged by a 1997 and 2009 Full Court resolution. In 2019, a Constitution Bench had ruled that such disclosure, if in public interest, does not violate privacy.
Pending Disclosures: Asset details of 12 judges are yet to be uploaded; the court confirmed these will be published as submissions are received.