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Open Letter to Judges
In 1997, while adopting the “Restatement of Judicial Values” (also called the Code of Conduct), the judges of the Supreme Court decided that each judge would declare her/his assets in confidence to the Chief Justice of India. This was reiterated in 1999 in a conference of Chief Justices. These resolutions were adopted in light of a growing public perception that there was lack of accountability of the higher judiciary and were in line with the requirement of declaration of assets by all civil servants to the government.
In 1997, while adopting the “Restatement of Judicial Values” (also called the Code of Conduct), the judges of the Supreme Court decided that each judge would declare her/his assets in confidence to the Chief Justice of India. This was reiterated in 1999 in a conference of Chief Justices. These resolutions were adopted in light of a growing public perception that there was lack of accountability of the higher judiciary and were in line with the requirement of declaration of assets by all civil servants to the government.
Subsequently, in 2002 and 2003, the Supreme Court in its judgments in the Association for Democratic Reform (ADR) and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) cases has held that it is part of the fundamental right of citizens, under Article 19 (1) (a) to know the assets and liabilities of candidates contesting election to Parliament or the state legislatures. In the words of the court:
Dear Reader,
