Lawyers welcome the decision of Delhi HC on CJI office

Prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday termed as "historic" the verdict of the Delhi High Court holding the office of the Chief Justice of India within the ambit of Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday termed as "historic" the verdict of the Delhi High Court holding the office of the Chief Justice of India within the ambit of Right to Information (RTI) Act.

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"It is a very historic judgement by the High Court which will certainly enhance the stature of judiciary in the country," Bhushan, who has been appearing for the RTI activist Subash C Agarwal seeking judges to declare their assets, said.

In a landmark verdict against the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court today held that the office of the Chief Justice of India comes within the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) law.

He said the decision has not only rejected the argument that the office of the Chief Justice does not come under the purview of the RTI Act but also emphasised that the code of conduct and "asset declaration is fully enforceable."

"The judgement has emphatically emphasised that the code of conduct and asset declaration is fully enforceable and that every exercise of power by the judiciary and by the Chief Justice whether in its administrative capacity or in judicial capacity is accountable and comes within the purview of the RTI Act," he said.

Subhash C Agarwal, RTI activist who sought the judges to make their assets public, said the verdict is a "victory for consumers of justice."

"I have done nothing more than fighting for justice... I am a victim of misconduct in higher judiciary," he said.