ANS: A Parliamentary Committee advised mandating annual property returns for Supreme Court and High Court justices. In its report “Judicial Processes And Their Reforms,” the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice stated that constitutional functionaries and government servants must file annual asset and liability returns.
The Standing Committee, chaired by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi, said the Supreme Court has ruled that MPs and MLAs must disclose their assets.
He stated that public officials receiving exchequer salaries must submit annual property returns. The government informed the parliamentary panel that asset reporting and public disclosure should be institutionalized.
The Committee advised the Union government to pass laws requiring Supreme Court and High Court justices to submit yearly property returns to the competent body. It stated higher judiciary justices declaring assets would increase trust and credibility.