New Delhi: In a late-night development on May 5, 2025, the Supreme Court of India made public the asset details of 21 out of its 33 sitting judges. This move, aimed at promoting transparency, comes just days before Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna is set to retire on May 13.
Asset declarations from all five judges of the Supreme Court Collegium have been uploaded to the court’s official website. In addition to this, the court has shared comprehensive details of the judicial appointment process – covering the involvement of High Court Collegiums, state governments, the central government, and the final decisions by the Supreme Court Collegium – making the entire procedure accessible for public understanding.
Among the two women currently serving on the Supreme Court bench, Justice Bela M. Trivedi has disclosed her assets, while Justice B.V. Nagarathna’s declaration is yet to appear online. Judges P.S. Narasimha and K.V. Viswanathan, who were elevated directly from the Bar, have also made their asset information public.
However, asset declarations from 12 judges, including Justices J.K. Maheshwari, Dipankar Datta, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Manoj Misra, Aravind Kumar, P.K. Mishra, S.C. Sharma, P.B. Varale, N. Kotiswar Singh, R. Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi, are still pending publication.
The website also now features information on recommendations approved by the Supreme Court Collegium for High Court judge appointments between November 9, 2022, and May 5, 2025. This includes each candidate’s name, High Court, professional background (judiciary or Bar), dates of recommendation and appointment, social category, and whether the individual has any familial connection to sitting or former judges.
A court statement clarified that the Full Court had resolved on April 1, 2025, to place judges’ asset disclosures in the public domain. The court is continuing to upload the disclosures it has received and will add others as they are submitted.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna’s Assets
Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, has made public a comprehensive account of his financial holdings, revealing investments spread across various instruments such as fixed deposits, bank accounts, government savings schemes, insurance policies, mutual funds, and equities. His declared assets include around ₹55.75 lakh in bank balances and fixed deposits, and over ₹1.77 crore in his General Provident Fund (GPF). He also holds a life insurance policy with an annual premium below ₹29,625 and owns shares worth approximately ₹14,000.
Additionally, a separate declaration shows that he has further fixed deposits and bank holdings amounting to nearly ₹23.87 lakh. His investments jointly held with family, including a Public Provident Fund (PPF) valued at ₹64.51 lakh and shares/mutual funds worth ₹1.39 crore, were also disclosed.
In terms of movable assets, Justice Khanna owns 250 grams of gold and 2 kilograms of silver, most of which were received as gifts or inherited. He also owns a 2015 Maruti Swift and has additional jewellery, including 700 grams of gold, 5 kilograms of silver, and assorted pieces featuring diamonds, pearls, and rubies — primarily passed down through the family or given on special occasions.
Justice B R Gavai’s Assets
Justice B.R. Gavai, who is set to assume the role of Chief Justice of India on May 14, has declared financial assets including ₹19.63 lakh across various bank accounts and ₹6.59 lakh in a Public Provident Fund (PPF) account.
In terms of immovable property, he has inherited a house in Amravati, Maharashtra, and owns two residential flats—one located in Maharashtra and the other in New Delhi. His declaration also includes liabilities amounting to ₹1.3 crore.
Justice K V Vishwanathan’s Assets
Meanwhile, Justice K V Vishwanathan stands out as the wealthiest judge on the Supreme Court bench. His total investments in shares, mutual funds, and fixed deposits exceed ₹120.96 crore. He also declared another ₹6.43 crore, including inherited equity holdings, and ₹1.31 crore in other financial disclosures. Moreover, he holds USD 500,000 twice under the Reserve Bank of India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme. His movable wealth includes around 1,450 grams of jewellery, received through gifts or inheritance, and two Toyota vehicles – a Hybrid Camry and an Altis – both purchased in 2017.
Justice Surya Kant has disclosed holding fixed deposits exceeding ₹6 crore, along with ownership of residential properties in Chandigarh, Gurugram, and New Delhi.
Justice A.S. Oka, who is scheduled to retire on May 24 this year, has reported ₹92.35 lakh in his Public Provident Fund (PPF) and fixed deposits amounting to ₹21.76 lakh. He also owns a Maruti car purchased in 2022 and has an outstanding car loan of ₹5.1 lakh.
Justice Vikram Nath has declared investments totaling ₹1.5 crore and owns two residential properties—a flat in Noida and a bungalow in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
