In a landmark move to uphold transparency in the judiciary, the Supreme Court of India has begun publishing asset declarations of its sitting judges on its official website. The decision, taken by the full court on April 1, 2025, marks a significant shift toward openness in the nation's highest judicial institution.
A statement issued by the apex court on Monday read, "The full court of the Supreme Court of India has, on April 1, 2025, decided that the statements of assets of the judges of this court shall be placed in the public domain by uploading the same on the website of this court. 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."
This unprecedented step comes alongside another transparency measure: the publication of a detailed explanation of the judicial appointment process. The official website now provides insights into the Supreme Court and High Court collegium procedures, including the roles of the state and central governments in recommending and confirming names.
Further boosting public access to institutional data, the court has also uploaded a comprehensive list of High Court appointments from November 9, 2022, to May 5, 2025. This includes critical details such as appointee names, sources of selection (judicial service or Bar), categories (SC, ST, OBC, Minority, or Woman), and whether any familial ties exist with sitting or retired judges.
Among the disclosed financials, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna reported diverse holdings. His declaration lists Rs 55.75 lakh in fixed deposits and bank balances, a General Provident Fund (GPF) of over Rs 1.77 crore, and a Public Provident Fund (PPF) valued at Rs 64.51 lakh. He also has investments in shares and mutual funds worth Rs 1.39 crore jointly with his family. His movable assets include 250g of gold, 2kg of silver, and a 2015 Maruti Swift car.
On the other hand, Justice K V Vishwanathan has emerged as the richest among Supreme Court judges, with investments in financial instruments exceeding Rs 120.96 crore. His additional declarations include Rs 6.43 crore in inherited shares and Rs 1.31 crore in other investments. Notably, he holds USD 500,000 twice under the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme. His asset list also includes two Toyota cars and nearly 1,450 grams of jewellery acquired via gifts or inheritance.
