JOIN USJustice Balakrishnan, however, owns three houses and two plots of land in Kerala and the National Capital Region respectively. His spouse owns 20 sovereign gold jewellery and he a 2000 model Santro car.
The CJI made public his assets on Monday along with 20 other brother judges. Justice S H Kapadia appeared to be wealthier than the CJI whose total declared assets amounts to Rs 18 lakh.
Justice Kapadia put the value of his declared assets at over Rs 48 lakh. The assets include flats, buildings, shares, mutual funds, fixed deposits and provident fund. He owns no vehicle.
Justice B N Agarwal, who retired last month, also declared his assets.
‘Excellent gesture’
The details of the judges’ assets have been put on the Supreme Court’s website, http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in.
Though the disclosure of the judges’ assets followed an order of the Delhi High Court on September 2, the apex court has made it clear that the judges had declared their assets “voluntarily”. Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily welcomed the judges’ decision, terming it an “excellent gesture” by the judiciary. Moily said that the SC judges’ move indicated the highest level of integrity of the people in high judicial position.
Details
According to the declaration on the SC website, the CJI’s immovable assets are worth around Rs 18.08 lakh, and they include a two-bedroom residential flat over 2.2 cents at Mamangalam in Ernakulam district of Kerala, 15,840 cents of land in Kanayannoor Taluk of the same district, family property of Rs 3.5 lakh at Vaikkom Taluk in Kottayam district and a residential plot of 444.44 sq yards at Faridabad in Haryana.
The CJI also declared that he owned another house in Thrikkakara village of Kanayanoor Taluk. But he has not disclosed the estimated value of the property.
His wife Nirmala Balakrishnan owns a piece of land in Meenachil Taluk of Kottayam district.
The Chief Justice of India and other judges of the Supreme Court declared their assets at the end of a controversy triggered by a petition filed by Subhas C Agarwal, seeking information on the assets of persons holding high judicial positions.
Justice R V Raveendran, gave a detailed account of his assets with the exact number of his shares, debentures etc. According to the declaration, he owns shares in 57 companies, including Reliance Group firms belonging to both Mukesh and Anil Ambani.
He is hearing a case on the gas supply dispute between the firms of the two Ambani brothers and the Centre. In his declaration, he states that he is the co-owner of house premises measuring 3,500 sq ft in Bangalore. He has fixed deposits with Syndicate Bank, Bangalore, the amount of which has not been revealed.
The only sitting judge who could not declare his assets along with others was Justice H S Bedi.
Wealth of the top 3
CJI K G Balakrishnan
Total assets: Rs 18 lakh
* 2-bedroom flat in Ernakulam worth Rs 5.75 lakh; vacant residential plot in Faridabad measuring 444.44 sq yds valued at Rs 4.50 lakh; native house in Thrikkakara South village in Kerala.
* Other landed properties in Kerala, worth Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 4.33 lakh. Wife has 20 sovereigns gold jewellery and an old Santro car of 2000. No investment in shares or fixed deposits.
Second senior most judge, Justice S H KAPADIA, appears richer than CJI.
Total assets: over Rs 48 lakh.
* Flats, buildings, shares, mutual funds, fixed deposits, provident funds. He owns no vehicle.
* The third senior most judge, Justice Tarun Chatterjee is worth Rs 3 lakh. His and his wife’s vehicles include a Chevrolet Tavera and a Honda Seil.