24/08/2009
New Delhi: Seeking to dispel the impression that he was against disclosure of assets by judges, Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan on Monday said the members of higher judiciary are free to do so.
He also said he has the right to speak on behalf of all judges as head of judiciary and this is the practice in judicial systems in other countries too.
"The public has a right to know what is happening in judiciary and I am saying that I stand by what I have said on disclosure of assets by judges," Balakrishnan said.
He said, "If the judges want to declare their assets, no one can prevent (them). How can I prevent? If the law comes everybody has to declare."Balakrishnan also attacked Karnataka High Court Judge D V Shylendra Kumar as being "publicity-crazy".
Shylendra Kumar was the first to openly disagree with the CJI's stand. He had written in a national daily that the CJI did not have the authority to speak for all judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts.
Meanwhile, senior Supreme Court advocate Shanti Bhushan believes if more judges disclose their assets then the people's faith in the judiciary will be restored.
"It is a step in the right direction as it will restore the people's faith. People will be expecting that those judges who have nothing to hide will come forward and declare their personal wealth, this way people can scrutinise how much wealth they have," Bhushan said.
Agencies
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Venu10
#1
24 August 2009 02:19:51
I am surprised that the Chief Justice of India should call a judge who has declared his assets as publicity crazy. Instead of commending the action of the judge, the CJ appears to have mocked him. I think the CJ should apologize.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3169736&boardsparam=PostID%3D178931
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