Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Judge Calls for Greater Judicial Transparency
A Supreme Court judge named Justice Ujjal Bhuyan made a big announcement in July 2024.
He said that the courts in India are not very open about how they choose judges and how they run their budgets.
He showed that only a few courts share their money plans and that most judges do not share their own money records.
He also talked about how judges’ family members sometimes work in the courts, which could be a problem.
Some people worry that being too open might make judges scared to make the right decisions.
Justice Bhuyan thinks the courts should be more honest but still keep some private information.
He wants rules that say when judges should step aside if they have family in the court, and how judges should be chosen fairly.
The goal is to make people trust the courts more.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan launched a Judicial Transparency Index report highlighting limited disclosure of Supreme Court Collegium decisions and high court budgets.
The report found only 5 high courts published 2025‑26 budgets, no public criteria for case allocation, and only 87 of 813 judges disclosed assets.
Concerns were raised over sealed cover procedures, government counsel appointments, and lack of recusal guidelines for judges’ relatives.
Critics argue transparency could threaten judicial independence, but Bhuyan advocates for calibrated openness with published criteria and reasoned decisions.
Proposed reforms include a transparent recusal framework, merit‑based government counsel appointments, and publicly disclosed collegium resolutions.
- Who
- Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Supreme Court judges, and other high court judges
- What
- A report on judicial transparency and proposed reforms
- When
- July 2024
- Where
- India, Supreme Court and High Courts
- Why
- To improve public trust and accountability in the judiciary
- Report Title
- Judicial Transparency Index: Assessing Disclosure of Information by the Supreme Court and the High Courts
- Author
- Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
- Key Findings
- Only 5 high courts published 2025‑26 budgets; 87 of 813 judges disclosed assets
- Proposed Reforms
- Transparent recusal framework, merit‑based government counsel appointments, publicly disclosed collegium resolutions
- Launch Date
- July 2024