New Delhi: Eminent jurists on Monday welcomed
declaration of assets by Chief Justice of India K G
Balakrishnan and 20 Supreme Court judges saying it was a "good
step long pending overdue."
"It is a good step. I welcome it," said former
Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee.
Sorabjee said he would give detailed reactions only
after going through the information provided by the judges on
the website about their assets.
Former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan and noted Supreme
Court Advocate Prashant Bhushan also welcomed the move.
However, Prashant Bhushan, who has been on the
forefront in the court battles on declaration of assets by the
judges, was forthcoming in his view and said "this is not
enough" and would still advocate for a law which makes the
declaration mandatory and not voluntary.
"Since, it (declaration of assets) is voluntary, it is
open to judges to refuse. We still need a law to make this
disclosure compulsory that too on an affidavit, so that false
disclosures become punishable as in the case of election
candidate.
"The law should encompass all public servants and not
merely the judges. Even the details regarding I-T returns and
wealth tax returns should be given," Prashant Bhushan said.
He summed up saying "it is a good thing which was long
overdue. It is a welcome development."
Bhushan said "the law should encompass all public
servants and not merely the judges. Even the details regarding
I-T returns and wealth tax returns should be given."
He said "more details of the assets needed to be
given such as date, place and price at the time of purchase of
the properties."
Exact address of the purchased properties be given as
it would help in ascertaining the veracity of the information,
he added.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 02, 2009, 22:58