CJI refuses comment on dropping of judges' assets disclosure Bill

Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Thursday declined to comment on government's decision to abruptly drop the judges assets disclousure Bill.

Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Thursday declined to comment on government's decision to abruptly drop the judges assets disclousure Bill.

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"Now that there is a proposed legislation, it would not be proper for me to comment," he said when reporters sought his views at a function in the Supreme Court premises.

Justice Balakrishnan also declined to give his opinion on a suggestion that judges, instead of waiting for a legislation, should voluntarily disclose their assets.

On Monday, the UPA government had to hurriedly drop the Judges (declaration of assets and liabilities Bill) 2009 in the Rajya Sabha after members from not only opposition BJP and CPI-M but also from Congress objected to the Bill in its present form.

The agitated MPs were of the view that the Bill granted immunity to the judges from disclosing their assets to the public as it merely envisaged declaration of the same to the Chief Justice of India.