Amid Cash-At-Home Row, SC to Make Judges' Assets Public, Details To Be Uploaded On Court's Website

In a major step to ensure transparency, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, along with 29 other Supreme Court judges, has decided to make a declaration of their assets.

What The Top Court Says?

The decision has been taken to reinforce the integrity and accountability of the judiciary at a full court meeting on Thursday. The judges have decided to declare full details of their assets on the Supreme Court website. However, it is on a voluntary basis, the apex court website stated.

"The full court of the Supreme Court had resolved that judges should make a declaration of their assets on assuming office, and whenever any acquisition of a substantial nature is made, to the Chief Justice," the top court stated.

As per the existing rules, the apex court judges should share the details of their assets to the Chief Justice of India after assuming office. It has to be noted that there is no mandatory requirement for the judges to disclose details in public domain. While the SC website has a section to reveal the assets owned by judges, it has not been regularly updated in the recent years, as per a report in NDTV.

Why SC Judges Have Decided To Make Their Assets Public?

The development comes after cash was allegedly found at Justice Yashwant Varma's residence on 14 March 2025. He was then transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court. However, he's been barred from handling any judicial work until further notice.

The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the transfer, insisting it's not directly linked to the ongoing probe into the alleged discovery of cash at his Delhi residence. The Collegium's resolution states the decision was made in meetings on March 20 and 24.

"The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meetings held on March 20 and 24, 2025, has recommended the repatriation of Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge, High Court of Delhi, to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad," read the court's resolution.

However, Justice Varma has denied the allegations. In a letter to Delhi Chief Justice, he said, "I state unequivocally that no cash was ever placed in that storeroom either by me or any of my family members and strongly denounce the suggestion that the alleged cash belonged to us. The very idea or suggestion that this cash was kept or stored by us is totally preposterous." He further described the suggestion that cash was stored openly as "incredible and incredulous."