Context : Out of 769 judges across 25 High Courts, only 95 judges (12.35%) have disclosed their assets.Highlights a significant lack of transparency in the higher judiciary.
Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary ), GS 4(Ethics in Public Life)
Highs and Lows Among High Courts
- Kerala High Court: Leads with 93.18% (41/44 judges) having declared assets.
- Himachal Pradesh High Court: 91.66% (11/12 judges) compliance.
- Chhattisgarh High Court: Only 1 out of 16 judges disclosed assets.
- Madras High Court: Only 5 out of 65 judges declared.
- Delhi High Court: Disclosure fell from 29/35 judges in 2018 to just 7/38 judges now.
Triggering Incident
- The recovery of partially burnt currency notes at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma (Delhi HC) has reignited the debate over judicial transparency and ethics.
Supreme Court’s Proactive Step
- In response, all 33 serving Supreme Court judges unanimously agreed (Full Court Meeting, April 1) to publish their asset declarations on the apex court website — setting a positive precedent.
Concerns Raised
- Sharp decline in voluntary disclosure over the years despite public expectations.
- Lack of a uniform, mandatory mechanism for periodic asset disclosure.
- Potential erosion of public trust in judicial integrity.
Legal and Ethical Context
- Asset disclosure by judges is not legally mandatory, but encouraged as a voluntary ethical practice.
- Originally inspired by a 2009 SC resolution post-CJI K.G. Balakrishnan era, urging voluntary disclosures.
- Non-disclosure undermines the principle of accountability in public institutions.
Way Forward
- Need for a uniform national policy or law mandating periodic asset disclosure by judges.
- Could be anchored under Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill (pending for years).
- Transparency could enhance public confidence, ensure judicial propriety, and deter unethical conduct.
