By News Desk 
In a significant move to enhance transparency, the Supreme Court of India has made the asset declarations of its judges publicly accessible online. Additionally, since 2022, detailed profiles of all recommended candidates for appointments to the Supreme Court and High Courts have been uploaded. The top court has also made public the evaluation criteria used in the appointment of judges and has published the entire selection process on its official website.
Diversity and Appointment Transparency
The court has shared comprehensive data regarding the representation of women, minorities, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) among recommended candidates. Information related to judicial nominees, including timelines and delays in government approvals, has also been made available. This transparency sheds light on how long the government takes to process approved names.
Public Access to Judges’ Asset Declarations
A press release issued by the Supreme Court stated, “The Full Court of the Supreme Court of India resolved on April 1, 2025, to make public the asset details of its judges by uploading them on the official website.” Asset disclosures already submitted have been posted online, while additional declarations will be added as they are received.
Complete Appointment Procedure Made Public
The Supreme Court has published the entire process involved in the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary. This includes recommendations made by High Court collegiums, feedback from state governments and the Union of India, and other inputs considered by the Supreme Court Collegium. The goal is to foster public awareness and accountability.
Details of Judicial Recommendations (Nov 2022 – May 2025)
Between November 9, 2022, and May 5, 2025, all recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium for High Court appointments have been uploaded. These records include:
- Candidate names
- High Court and professional background (Bar or judicial service)
- Date of recommendation
- Notification date by the Department of Justice
- Date of appointment
- Category details (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Women)
- Whether the candidate is related to a sitting or retired HC/SC judge
Asset Disclosure of Chief Justice and Successor
According to data available on the official website:
- Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna holds approximately ₹55.75 lakh in fixed deposits and bank accounts, and ₹1.06 crore in a Public Provident Fund (PPF).
- In terms of real estate, he owns a two-bedroom DDA flat in South Delhi and a four-bedroom apartment in the Commonwealth Games Village.
- He also owns a 56% share in a four-bedroom flat in Gurugram, with the remaining 44% held by his daughter. Additionally, he has a stake in a family house in Himachal Pradesh, inherited from pre-partition times.
His successor, Justice B.R. Gavai, who is set to take over as CJI on May 14, has:
- ₹19.63 lakh in bank accounts and ₹6.59 lakh in a PPF account.
- Inherited a house in Amravati, along with residential properties in Mumbai and Delhi.
- He also owns agricultural land in Amravati and Nagpur, passed down through inheritance.
- His declared liabilities stand at approximately ₹1.3 crore.
Conclusion: A New Era of Judicial Accountability
This initiative by the Supreme Court is a landmark effort to increase public trust in the judiciary by promoting openness in judicial appointments and personal financial disclosures. By setting an example from the top, the court underscores its commitment to institutional integrity, diversity, and public accountability in India’s legal system.