In Unprecedented Move, Supreme Court Makes Judges’ Assets Public For The First Time
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New Delhi | May 6, 2025: In a historic development, the Supreme Court of India has, for the first time since Independence, made public the asset declarations of its judges. The move reflects a significant step towards judicial transparency and accountability.
https://www.sci.gov.in/assets-of-judges
On Monday night, asset statements of 21 out of 33 sitting judges were uploaded on the Supreme Court’s official website, following a decision by the full court on April 1, 2025, to bring such information into the public domain. The disclosures include details of movable and immovable assets owned by the judges, as well as by their spouses and dependents, wherever applicable.
According to the official release:
“The full court of the Supreme Court of India has on April 1, 2025, decided that the statements of assets of the judges of this court shall be placed in the public domain by uploading the same on the website of this court. Statements of assets of judges already received are being uploaded. Statements of assets of other judges will be uploaded as and when the current statement of assets is received.”
Among the key disclosures:
- Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, who is set to retire on May 13, owns a three-bedroom DDA flat in South Delhi, holds Rs 55.75 lakh in fixed deposits and bank accounts, Rs 1.06 crore in Public Provident Fund (PPF), and drives a 2015 Maruti Swift.
- Justice B.R. Gavai, who will succeed Justice Khanna later this month as the next Chief Justice of India, declared ownership of an inherited house in Amaravati (Maharashtra), a residential flat in Delhi’s Defence Colony, and agricultural land in Amaravati and Nagpur. He also holds investments in shares and mutual funds, along with Rs 6.59 lakh in PPF and Rs 35.86 lakh in the General Provident Fund (GPF).
- Justice Surya Kant, next in line for the CJI post after Justice Gavai, declared residential properties in Chandigarh and Gurugram, as well as a flat in Delhi. His financial portfolio includes 16 Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) totaling Rs 4.11 crore, and Rs 3.74 crore in GPF.
The remaining judges’ disclosures are expected to be uploaded in the coming days as their latest statements are received. Legal experts have hailed the move as a bold precedent in reinforcing public trust in the judiciary.
