His response came when a reporter sought to know whether the decision was due to “mounting public pressure or a change in judicial conscience”.

Asked whether he would direct the judges of the high courts to declare their assets, he responded: “High court judges are not under my administrative control. Even though we (Supreme Court) have appellate jurisdiction, the administrative control is with the chief justices of the respective high courts.’’

Justice Balakrishnan said high court judges could take their own decisions. “I am told that the Delhi High Court is even meeting on the issue,” he added.

Asked when a woman judge would be appointed to the apex court, he said in a lighter vein: “The House of Lords (in England) had taken 100 years to find a woman judge.”