SC to appeal against HC verdict

As soon as the a full bench of High Court headed by Chief Justice A P Shah pronounced the verdict,the counsel appearing for the apex court sought its certificate to file the appeal which was granted by the Court.

Advocate Atul Nanda,appearing for the apex court,contended the issue is of national importance and so it has to be decided by the apex court.

The court,after hearing his arguments,allowed him to move to Supreme Court.

CJI K G Balakrishnan has consistently been maintaining that his office does not come under the transparency law and hence cannot part with information like disclosure of judges’ assets under it.

Holding that CJI is a public authority under the Act,the HC bench said judges of the superior courts should make public their assets as they are not “less accountable” than the judicial officers of the lower courts who are bound by service rules to declare assets.