Judicial transparency remains elusive as the majority of High Court judges do not disclose assets publicly despite Supreme Court directive.
Why in News
Only 12% of judges have declared their assets despite the push of the Supreme Court of India for transparency.
Overview
Justice Yashwant Varma Allegations and Asset Disclosure Controversy
Following a controversy relating to Justice Yashwant Varma where a fire allegedly led to the discovery of large sums of cash at his house, the Supreme Court of India decided all sitting and future judges must declare their assets on the website of the court. Although this move marks a shift towards transparency data reveals that only 11.94% of judges have publicly disclosed their wealth. This includes 30 of 33 Supreme Court judges who have declared their assets to the Chief Justice though details remain unpublished online.
Key Aspects
- Only 95 of 762 High Court judges have revealed assets publicly.
- 18 High Courts including Allahabad, Bombay and Calcutta show zero declarations.
- Kerala leads with 93% compliance after the new Supreme Court order.
- Delhi, Madras, Chhattisgarh and Punjab & Haryana show partial disclosures.
- Voluntary declarations have been inconsistent and largely ineffective.
Legal Insights
- No legal mandate under the Supreme Court Judges Act 1958 or High Court Judges Act 1954 for asset disclosure.
- Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010 lapsed and never was reintroduced.
- The Parliamentary Committee Report (August 2023) recommended mandatory annual asset declarations .
- The committee stressed on public office demands transparency urging legislation for binding disclosure.
Conclusion
Despite efforts by the Supreme Court of India voluntary disclosures have failed to see transparency in the wealth of the judges. The Parliamentary Committee Report strongly advocates for mandatory declarations. Unless legal backing is provided public confidence in judicial accountability especially post the Justice Yashwant Varma incident—may continue to erode.
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Read also: JUSTICE YASHWANT VARMA’S OATH CHALLENGED IN ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
