Chief Justice of India comes under purview of RTI Act, says Delhi High Court

New Delhi, Jan 12 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday upheld its verdict that the office of the Chief Justice of India comes within the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the senior most judge is obliged to share details of his assets under this act.

The Chief Justice of India, KG Balakrishnan, will now have to disclose his assets.

The other judges of the Supreme Court had last year agreed to make their assets public by listing them on the court's website.

The Supreme Court has been conflicting that the Chief Justice of India is not covered by RTI. Balakrishnan had argued that this would lead to harassment of judges.

But the Delhi High Court has upheld its earlier verdict, delivered in September 2009 that the office of Chief Justice is a public office and therefore covered by RTI.

Balakrishnan said on Monday, "The earlier order too said disclose assets but it should be kept in confidence."

But because of so much discussion, so much media coverage, many people were thinking that these judges are amassing huge wealth and hiding it so we decided to disclose our assets, why should we suffer this false propaganda," he added.

With the Delhi High Court verdict, transparency and accountability in judiciary is expected.

A single judge bench order had earlier supported the order of the Chief Information Commissioner stating that the office of the Chief Justice of India is a public authority and comes under the RTI. (ANI)