In a landmark move towards institutional transparency, the Supreme Court of India has publicly released the asset declarations of its judges, including that of the Chief Justice of India, on its official website. This marks the first such disclosure and is being hailed as a step toward greater openness within the judiciary.
Out of the 33 sitting judges of the Supreme Court, financial disclosures of 21 have been made available in the initial phase. The timing of the release is significant, coming just days ahead of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s retirement on May 13.
This development follows a decision taken on April 1, mandating that judges’ asset details be made accessible to the public through the Court’s official portal. According to a note issued by the apex court, the remaining judges’ declarations will be uploaded as and when they are submitted.
In an effort to broaden transparency, the Supreme Court has also uploaded comprehensive details related to judicial appointments to both the Supreme Court and High Courts. This includes inputs from state and central governments, assessments made by High Court Collegiums, and final decisions taken by the Supreme Court Collegium.
Among the released financial data, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna has declared Rs 55.75 lakh in fixed deposits and bank accounts, along with Rs 1.06 crore in his Public Provident Fund (PPF). His successor, Justice B.R. Gavai—set to assume office on May 14—has reported Rs 19.63 lakh in bank savings and Rs 6.59 lakh in PPF.
Of the two women judges currently serving in the apex court, Justice Bela M. Trivedi has disclosed her assets, while the financial details of Justice B.V. Nagaratna are yet to be posted.
Meanwhile, Justices P.S. Narasimha and K.V. Viswanathan, both of whom were elevated directly from the Bar, have submitted their asset declarations. Notably, Justice K.V. Viswanathan has reported a total investment portfolio worth Rs 120.96 crore, making him the judge with the highest declared assets so far. Between 2010-11 and 2024-25, he has paid Rs 91.47 crore in income tax, reflecting his extensive pre-bench legal practice.
The move has been widely acknowledged as a bold initiative in strengthening public trust and judicial accountability in India’s highest court.