Supreme Court Judges Reveal Assets; Justice K.V. Viswanathan Tops the List

A significant move to enhance transparency within the Supreme Court of India has come into effect. As per a resolution passed during the full court meeting held on April 1, several judges of the apex court have voluntarily disclosed their personal asset details on the official website of the Supreme Court.

The decision gained importance in the wake of a fire incident at the residence of a Delhi High Court judge, where unaccounted cash was discovered. This incident intensified the ongoing discourse surrounding accountability within the judiciary.

Previously, asset disclosure by judges was optional; however, the latest decision mandates all judges to publicly declare their assets. As of midnight on Monday, 21 out of the total 33 sitting judges of the Supreme Court had uploaded their asset declarations. The remaining judges are expected to submit their disclosures shortly.

According to the information disclosed so far, Justice K.V. Viswanathan, who served as a senior advocate before his appointment to the Supreme Court bench, holds the highest declared wealth among his peers. His declaration includes investments valued at approximately ₹120 crore. He also stated that he has paid more than ₹91 crore in income tax over the past decade.

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has also declared his assets. He reported having fixed deposits worth ₹55.75 lakh in his bank account and ₹1.06 crore in a Public Provident Fund (PPF) account. He further revealed ownership of a two-bedroom DDA flat in South Delhi, a four-bedroom flat in the Commonwealth Games Village, and a 50 percent share in another four-bedroom flat purchased jointly with his daughter.

Justice B.R. Gavai, who is set to assume the role of Chief Justice of India soon, declared assets including ₹19.63 lakh in his bank account and ₹6.59 lakh in his PPF account. His declaration also mentioned inherited agricultural lands in Amravati and Nagpur in Maharashtra, along with residential apartments in Mumbai and Delhi.