Supreme Court Publishes Assets of 21 Judges, Aims for Greater Public Accountability

In a significant move towards transparency, the Supreme Court of India has published the assets of 21 out of 33 serving judges, just days before Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s retirement. This is part of a broader effort to provide the public with greater insight into the judicial appointments and assets of judges, reflecting a commitment to openness and accountability within the judiciary.

Why in News?

This development comes at a time when there has been increasing demand for transparency in the judiciary. The publication of judges’ asset details ahead of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s superannuation on May 13, 2025 is seen as a timely move to boost public trust. Additionally, the full publication of the appointment process for High Court and Supreme Court judges is expected to provide much-needed clarity on the judicial appointments procedure.

Asset Disclosure

• As of May 5, 2025, the Supreme Court published asset details for 21 judges, including all five Collegium judges.
• The remaining 12 judges will have their assets disclosed soon, with updates on the court’s website as they are received.
• Notably, the assets of two women judges—Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice B.V. Nagarathna—are partially disclosed, with Justice Trivedi’s assets published but not Justice Nagarathna’s.

Collegium and Appointment Process

The Supreme Court Collegium has also disclosed its process of judicial appointments, including,

• Recommendations for High Court Judges from November 9, 2022, to May 5, 2025.
• Detailed information on candidates’ sources, special categories (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Woman), and the relationship with current or retired judges.

The Full Court Decision

• On April 1, 2025, the Supreme Court Full Court decided to place the statements of assets of judges in the public domain, ensuring that this becomes a regular practice moving forward.
• The goal is to upload the asset details of all judges as and when the statements are received.

Background and Static Facts

• Supreme Court Collegium is a system of judges responsible for recommending judicial appointments.
• The move comes at a time when transparency and accountability in public office have been highly discussed in India.
• The Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, is set to retire on May 13, 2025, marking a transitional moment for the judiciary.

Significance

• This initiative is aimed at ensuring greater transparency and accountability of the judiciary, often seen as a guard of the constitution in India.
• Public access to asset disclosures of judges will likely play a key role in boosting confidence in the judicial system.
• It also clarifies the judicial appointments process, reducing opacity and helping citizens understand the selection criteria better.