In Historic First Supreme Court Makes Judges Assets and Appointment Process Public

Supreme Court Makes judges assets: In a landmark move aimed at enhancing transparency and restoring public trust in the judiciary, the Supreme Court of India has made public the asset declarations of its judges and the entire process of judicial appointments. This is the first time in the country’s history that such sensitive information has been proactively placed in the public domain.

The decision was taken by the full court of the Supreme Court on April 1, 2025, and marks a significant shift towards greater judicial accountability. As of now, the asset details of 21 out of 33 sitting Supreme Court judges, including all five members of the Supreme Court Collegium, have been uploaded on the official website of the apex court.

Breaking the Wall of Secrecy

The apex court, in an official statement, said:

“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.”

The court clarified that the statements of assets of other judges will be uploaded as and when they are received. This bold initiative is being widely seen as a major step to bridge the gap between the judiciary and the public, often criticised for operating in opacity.

Full Disclosure on Judicial Appointments

In addition to judges’ assets, the Supreme Court has also uploaded detailed information related to the appointment of judges to both the high courts and the apex court itself. This includes:

• Name and high court of the appointee
• Source of appointment (from service or Bar)
• Date of recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium
• Date of notification by the Department of Justice
• Date of actual appointment
• Special category status (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Woman)
• Information on whether the candidate is related to any sitting or retired HC/SC judge

This transparency initiative covers judicial appointments made between November 9, 2022 and May 5, 2025.

Why This Move Matters

The Indian judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, has long been perceived as an institution shielded from public scrutiny. While the executive and legislature have been subjected to RTI and media glare, the judiciary remained largely insulated. This move could potentially reshape the public perception and set a new benchmark for judicial openness.

Public Awareness and Access

The court emphasized that this initiative is aimed at promoting public awareness and understanding of the judicial appointment process, as well as reaffirming the judiciary’s commitment to integrity and transparency.

Legal experts and civil society activists have largely welcomed the step, calling it a “giant leap” in the right direction. Many believe that such disclosures could serve as a deterrent against nepotism, favouritism, or unmerited appointments in the future.

By putting its own house in order and making judge assets and appointment processes transparent, the Supreme Court of India has sent out a strong message — that even the highest pillars of democracy are not above public accountability. This precedent may well open doors for deeper reforms across the judicial landscape of the nation.