Quite disappointing
It should be mandatory for SC, HC judges to declare assets: Sushil Modi in Rajya Sabha
Like MPs, MLAs and all-India service officers, judges of the Supreme Court and High Court should have to mandatorily disclose their assets, BJP MP and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law Sushil Kumar Modi said on Monday.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, Sushil Modi raised the issue of “the need for declaration of assets of Supreme Court and High Court judges”. He said IAS, IPS and IFS officers have to disclose their assets when they join the service and then subsequently every year. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, too, declares assets, he said. As per the Supreme Court directions, MLA and MP candidates have to declare their assets in the election affidavits and then once elected, they have to submit declarations every year.
Sushil Modi said like MPs and IAS officers, there should be a mechanism for judges — a suggestion that led to applause from MPs in the House. He added that either the government should amend an existing law or bring an amendment, or the Collegium should develop a mechanism to make it mandatory.
“Anybody holding public office and drawing salary from the exchequer should compulsorily declare annual details of their properties irrespective of the position that person holds. Like voters have the right to know assets of MLAs and MPs, the same way litigants have the right to know the assets of judges. This will repose the confidence and trust of the litigating public in the judicial system. If the minister who decides about awarding a tender has to disclose his assets, why not the judge who decides if the minister’s decision is right or wrong. Both are public authorities discharging public function,” he said.
He said while the Supreme Court has a system for a voluntary disclosure of assets by judges, as of Monday morning, the apex court’s website for declarations had not been updated beyond 2018 and the websites of only five High Courts had some details of a few judges.
Express News Service – 2023-12-11 19:15