Legal luminaries hail declaration of assets by CJI, judges

Eminent jurists today welcomed declaration of assets by chief justice of India KG Balakrishnan and 20 Supreme court judges saying it was a "good step long pending overdue."  "It is a good step. I welcome it," said former Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee.

Sorabjee said he would give detailed reactions only after going through the information provided by the judges on the website about their assets. Former law minister Shanti Bhushan and noted Supreme Court Advocate Prashant Bhushan also welcomed the move.

However, Prashant Bhushan, who has been on the forefront in the court battles on declaration of assets by the judges, was forthcoming in his view and said "this is not enough" and would still advocate for a law which makes the declaration mandatory and not voluntary.

"Since, it (declaration of assets) is voluntary, it is open to judges to refuse. We still need a law to make this disclosure compulsory that too on an affidavit, so that false disclosures become punishable as in the case of election candidate.

"The law should encompass all public servants and not merely the judges. Even the details regarding I-T returns and wealth tax returns should be given," Prashant Bhushan said. He summed up saying "it is a good thing which was long overdue. It is a welcome development."

He said "more details of the assets needed to be given such as date, place and price at the time of purchase of the properties." Exact address of the purchased properties be given as it would help in ascertaining the veracity of the information, he added.