In a landmark move toward transparency, the Supreme Court of India has made the asset declarations of its judges publicly accessible. Among the 21 judges who disclosed their financial details, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna’s declaration stands out for its disciplined financial planning and modest wealth, reflective of decades of public service.
Transparency in the Judiciary: A New Chapter
On April 1, 2025, the Supreme Court passed a full-court resolution mandating the publication of asset declarations by its judges to strengthen public confidence in the judiciary. As a result, details of 21 out of 33 sitting Supreme Court judges, including CJI Khanna, have been uploaded to the apex court’s official website.
This initiative marks a critical step forward in promoting accountability at the highest levels of India’s judicial system, a move long demanded by civil society and legal reform advocates.
CJI Khanna’s Financial Footprint
Justice Khanna’s cumulative assets, including both movable and immovable property, amount to a little over Rs 5 crore. His investment profile is defined by long-term savings instruments and a clear avoidance of high-risk market exposure in his own name.
Movable Assets (Self/Joint Family)
General Provident Fund (GPF): Rs 1.77 crore
Public Provident Fund (PPF): Rs 1.06 crore (account active since 1989)
Fixed Deposits & Bank Balances: Rs 55.75 lakh
Shares: Rs 14,000
LIC Policy: Annual premium of Rs 29,625
Movable Assets (Spouse):
PPF: Rs 64.51 lakh (account opened in 1991)
FDRs and Bank Accounts: Rs 23.87 lakh
Equity & Mutual Fund Investments: Rs 1.39 crore
Immovable Property
CJI Khanna’s real estate holdings reflect inherited assets, family co-ownership, and moderate acquisitions. These properties are spread across Delhi, Gurugram, and Himachal Pradesh:
South Delhi: Three-bedroom DDA flat—jointly acquired, made freehold in 2000
Commonwealth Games Village, Delhi: 4BHK apartment with two parking spaces (2446 sq. ft.), purchased in 2019 using proceeds from inherited property
Sispal Vihar, Gurugram: 56% share in a 4BHK apartment (2016 sq. ft.), co-owned with his daughter
Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh: Share in an ancestral house held under Dev Raj Khanna (HUF), originally built by his grandfather pre-Partition
Remarks on Property Ownership and Inheritance
The property holdings of CJI Sanjiv Khanna reveal a pattern of shared ownership and generational transfer. One flat was jointly acquired with his brother, later converted to freehold in 2000, with the brother relinquishing his share in 2013 for a consideration. Another flat in Delhi’s Commonwealth Games Village was purchased in 2019 using funds from a property inherited from his late father in 2004. A third apartment in Gurugram is co-owned with his daughter, who holds a 44% stake. Additionally, an ancestral house in Dalhousie, built by his grandfather before Partition, is listed as a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) asset in his father’s Will.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna’s asset declaration underscores a welcome shift toward greater judicial transparency in India. His modest and well-structured financial portfolio reflects decades of disciplined savings and ethical conduct in public office. This move not only sets a precedent for accountability but also reinforces trust in the judiciary.
The push for asset disclosures gains even more relevance in light of recent controversies, including the alleged recovery of a large stash of cash from the official premises of Justice Yashwant Varma during his tenure at the Delhi High Court. Though investigations are ongoing, the incident has raised serious questions about transparency and ethics in the judiciary. It has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for stricter oversight of judges’ financial conduct. The Supreme Court’s decision to voluntarily publish asset declarations appears to be a timely response to restore public trust. With such disclosures, the system takes a step toward cleansing its image. However, isolated declarations must lead to systemic reforms. Only then can public confidence in judicial integrity be fully restored.
