Judges should declare assets on their own: Bar association

The Delhi High Court Bar Association on today told the High Court that judges of higher courts should voluntarily declare their assets, as this would increase the people's faith in the judiciary.

The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) on Friday told the High Court that judges of higher courts should voluntarily declare their assets, as this would increase the people's faith in the judiciary.

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Appearing before Justice S Ravindra Bhat for hearing a petition of the Supreme Court's chief public information officer (CPIO), DHCBA president KC Mittal argued the disclosure of assets will enhance public faith and confidence in the judiciary.

The Supreme Court's CPIO in his petition had challenged the Jan 6 order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) directing the apex court registry to reveal information pertaining to the assets of judges.

Countering the argument of the Solicitor General, Mittal said," The judges of superior courts are constitutional appointees and hold the constitutional position and relationship..."

The RTI applicant, who had sought information on judges' assets, contended that revealing such information would not affect transparency and independence of the judicial system.

The high court Jan 19 stayed the CIC order holding that the Chief Justice of India's office comes within the ambit of the RTI Act and thus information has to be revealed.

Earlier, the apex court had held that its judges were not averse to declaring their assets and that parliament should frame a law on this.