The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : In a landmark move to enhance transparency and public trust, the Supreme Court of India has begun uploading the asset declarations of its sitting judges on its official website. This initiative stems from a full court decision dated April 1, 2025, which resolved to place judges’ asset statements in the public domain.
In a statement released on Monday, the apex court said, “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.”
The disclosures reveal that Justice KV Vishwanathan has declared assets worth ₹120 crore, making him the richest among the sitting Supreme Court judges. The uploaded statements include details of movable and immovable assets, investments, bank deposits, jewellery, and other financial holdings.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has also made his asset details public. According to his disclosure, he holds fixed deposits and bank balances amounting to ₹55.75 lakh, a General Provident Fund (GPF) worth ₹1.77 crore, and a Public Provident Fund (PPF) valued at ₹64.51 lakh. Additionally, he has investments in shares and mutual funds worth ₹1.39 crore, some of which are jointly held with his spouse or family members.
CJI Khanna’s movable assets include 250 grams of gold and 2 kilograms of silver, primarily received as gifts or inherited. His wife possesses 700 grams of gold and 5 kilograms of silver, along with jewellery containing diamonds, pearls, and rubies. The family also owns a Maruti Swift car purchased in 2015.
Beyond financial disclosures, the Supreme Court has taken further steps to boost transparency. It has now made public the entire procedure for appointments to the higher judiciary, including the functioning of the Collegium system and inputs from state and central governments. The details of all High Court appointments from November 9, 2022, to May 5, 2025, are now accessible online, complete with relevant data on social representation and family backgrounds.
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